The scheme, provided by funding from the Northern Ireland Executive, offers owner occupiers a grant of up to £1,000 to replace inefficient boilers, with energy efficient condensing oil or gas boilers; switching from oil to gas, or switching to a wood pellet boiler.
It is available to those who earn less than £40,000 a year with an inefficient boiler of at least 15 years and is dependent on total gross income.
Encouraging homeowners who think they may be eligible for the scheme to apply, Minister McCausland said: "This scheme that I am launching can make a real difference financially to 16,000 home owners throughout Northern Ireland. By replacing an old non-condensing boiler with a new condensing boiler, householders in an average three bedroom semi-detached house can save in excess of £2,700 over 10 years. This figure increases the older the boiler being replaced.
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"During last year's pilot scheme almost 1,700 boilers were replaced in homes throughout Northern Ireland with some delivering a 30% increase in fuel efficiency. This money saved will make a real difference to the most vulnerable in our community.
"Northern Ireland suffers from the highest level of fuel poverty in the United Kingdom with households here spending significantly more of their disposable income on energy costs. This scheme further underlines my Department's commitment to supporting people in reducing their energy costs and maximising the energy efficiency of their homes."
The scheme, administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, is targeted at householders who do not qualify for other Government energy efficient improvement schemes making them vulnerable to fuel poverty.
(CD)
