Why we think it's good you can now get a government grant for air conditioning
Turning up the heat on grant funding - now available for air conditioners as well
When I heard this week that the Government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme now includes air-to-air heat pumps, my first reaction was mixed. At Delta T, our vision is to create significant local impact in the race to cut CO₂ so at face value, funding air-to-air systems felt like a strange move.
After all, air-to-air heat pumps are essentially air conditioning units, and we all know air conditioning has a reputation for being energy-hungry and carbon-heavy. So why do I now think this £2,500 grant funding for air-to-air heat pumps could be a good thing?
The key thing is that these systems aren’t just about cooling. At their core is a reversible compressor, which means they can heat your home in winter and cool it in summer. In a heating cycle, the compressor is incredibly efficient at generating heat, using around one kWh of electricity to generate between three and four kWh of heat.
For some properties in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, especially flats or business premises where traditional wet heating systems aren’t practical, this could be a smart, low-carbon option. And for homeowners who've invested in solar PV, there’s an extra benefit: on sunny days, your panels can generate electricity to fully or partly power the system, making cooling and heating even greener.
The grant won’t cover everything, and good design still matters. But it lowers the barrier for homeowners and developers who want to move away from gas and oil. That matters because the climate challenge isn’t abstract, it’s local. Every home that switches to a low-carbon system helps cut emissions right here in our communities.
For us at Delta T, the expansion of the grant gives us more tools to deliver on our mission. It means we can offer solutions for smaller homes and space-constrained projects without compromising sustainability. And with hotter summers becoming the norm, cooling isn’t a luxury anymore, it’s a necessity.
So yes, Adam and I think it’s good you can now get a grant for air conditioning because in reality, it’s about giving homeowners more choice, future-proofing homes, and making low-carbon living more accessible.
If you’re planning a project in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire and want to explore what this means for you, do get in touch