SBMS

The current draft regulations seems to specifically include self build properties, see regulation 7 in the DES’ draft legislation for the boiler upgrade scheme: Requirements for new-build properties 7. A property meets the requirements in this regulation where— (a) any building that forms part of that property was built principally with the use of the labour or resources of the first owner (including where the resource was a loan which the first owner was liable to repay), and (b) the property has not, while the building was built or at any subsequent time been owned wholly or partly by a person who is not an individual. from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1040470/Draft_Boiler_Upgrade_Scheme__England_and_Wales__Regulations_2022.pdf so it does look like 5k grants are available for self builders, just not property developers. Would welcome anybody else’s interpretation of the regulations!

Thanks ProDave. I’m trying to compare them like for like and we are building well insulated. Like for like both energy sources are going to have to provide the same level of input energy so I’m just considering the functional and financial sides to the two technologies. The LPG standing charges are fairly low - we’ve been paying £60 per annum for last 5 years with previous supplier. joe90 - if you were being completely objective, assuming that LPG were the same cost but ASHP has higher install costs and I guess arguably were functionally more restrictive (even if that functionality is never used - because you’ve got a good setup), what would you say were the reasons for choosing ASHP in this scenario? Ianr - yes my parents just signed a 2 year deal with extragas at 38ppl. I agree that there’s a political argument to go ASHP in the event green taxes increase on LPG. In all likelihood I would suspect levies are focused on mains gas; LPG makes up such a tiny fraction of usage in the UK - and bearing in mind off grid properties are already limited in energy choice, I think it will be targeted last. But it’s certainly a point to consider and hence my covering by having a system that ASHP could be slotted into. But for the next 5 years say, does ASHP make sense? I guess what I am trying to cut through is the subjectivity around the topic (there’s a lot!) and for a well insulated, new build is there a compelling reason that I’ve missed to go with ASHP over LPG.

Hi A bit of context - currently about to start on a self new build - 280sqm 2.5 storey brick and block house. It’s green belt with no mains gas. North west of the UK. We are evaluating whether to go ASHP or sink an LPG tank. If we forget the install costs for ASHP which will be a fair bit higher than LPG, and the lack of ‘instant’ heat with ASHP, am I right in thinking it’s difficult to see how ASHP stacks up financially? LPG prices currently hover around 35ppl to 40ppl. A litre of LPG contains roughly 7kWh of energy so equates to circa 5 - 6ppl. Assuming we averaged a COP of 3.5 on an ASHP, current electricity prices are circa 20p per kWh so energy cost for ASHP is roughly the same. But deviations in COP (especially as 3.5 would be unlikely for DHW) means it’s pretty close and LPG is likely to be more economical in the short to medium term - along with some functional advantages (instant heat, no large unit etc). My current thinking was to design the house for ASHP (oversize rads, UFH, unvented cylinder, mains electric circuit for future pump), put a 2k LPG boiler in, and only switch if LPG prices grew over electricity. I really want to go all in on this technology because burning hydrocarbons is ‘last century’ but I also want to be objective regarding the cost. Thanks in advance