Is it possible to receive government funding for air conditioning installation?

Although the hot weather doesn't seem to be going away, you might soon be able to apply for a grant to install air conditioning

The British summer has been extremely harsh thus far due to heatwave after heatwave.

Three consecutive days in June broke the record for the hottest June day ever recorded, and June 26th was the sixth-hottest day in UK history.

In Britain, average temperatures are already about 1 degree Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, and climate change is expected to increase the frequency and duration of heatwaves.

We have very little infrastructure to handle such high temperatures because the UK has been a colder nation for a large portion of its history. However, air conditioning is now necessary in Britain for a number of reasons.

Watch the entire video here: Many people will be debating whether to purchase air conditioning (AC) as rising temperatures appear to be here to stay. Although it can save lives during heat waves, installing it can be costly.

For some people, though, a government grant might be able to lower the expenses.

Do grants for air conditioning exist in the United Kingdom?

In the UK, qualifying households may be eligible for a grant to assist with the cost of installing specific air conditioners that provide both heat and cooling.

The grant is a component of the government's boiler upgrade program (BUS), which lowers the cost of switching to environmentally friendly heating systems from fossil fuels.

Households can now install an air-to-air heat pump, also known as an air conditioner, with a maximum 2,500 discount.

Similar to air or ground source heat pumps, air-to-air heat pumps work by drawing heat from the outside to heat your house. They can, however, both heat and cool your house, in contrast to air or ground source heat pumps.

The government declared in late 2025 that these kinds of heat pumps would be covered by the BUS, which means you can now receive assistance from the government when installing air conditioning.

It's crucial to remember that the BUS is only accessible to homes replacing their fossil fuel heating system with a more eco-friendly one. Therefore, if you plan to use the air-to-air heat pump solely for cooling while maintaining your current heating system, you will not be eligible for the grant.

Describe an air-to-air heat pump.

An air-to-air heat pump draws in warm air from your house, cools it, and then releases the heat outside when used as an air conditioner in the summer.

Fans are used to draw in the air, which is then cooled with refrigerant before being brought back into your room and the heat is removed. Electricity powers the entire operation.

In the meantime, the air-to-air heat pump can efficiently carry out the same procedure in reverse to provide heat to your house during the colder months.

Because these are more environmentally friendly than conventional heating techniques, the government is urging people to install them. An added benefit is that they also function to cool the air during the summer.

How can a grant for an air-to-air heat pump be obtained?

You must buy an air-to-air heat pump from an MCS-certified installer in order to be eligible for the grant. On your behalf, they will apply for the grant.

It is crucial to remember that the grant is only accessible if the heat pump is installed by a company that is registered with MCS. You won't be eligible for the grant if you choose a company that isn't certified.

Even though the grant is now accessible, efforts are still being made to get more MCS suppliers to offer it. This implies that the time it takes to receive the discount might still be a little longer.

If you would like to use the BUS to install an air-to-air heat pump, you should get in touch with an installer who is certified by MCS and find out when you can apply for the grant.

What's the price of an air-to-air heat pump?

Depending on a number of factors, including where you live, the condition of your house, the model you wish to install, and much more, the cost of installing an air-to-air heat pump will change.

According to Checkatrade, the typical lifespan is 15 to 20 years, and the average cost of supply and installation is about £3,000.

The cost appears more reasonable when the 2,500 government grant is deducted from these expenses, but keep in mind that you might not receive the full amount.

The cost of operating your air-to-air heat pump will vary once it is installed. The length of time you keep it running, the temperature you want to reach, the size of your room, and the price cap's current level are just a few of the variables that affect it.

This makes it challenging to determine an average cost, but if you multiply your model's power in kilowatts (kW) by the price you pay for a kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy, you can figure out how much it would cost you.

A 3.5 kW air-to-air heat pump would cost you 0.86 to run for an hour using the July price cap as an example, though this amount will vary by model and change when the price cap rises or falls.