The Energy Price increase. Gas Boiler Ban. Why switch AC?
Many people are making a switch to AC as a result of global gas prices seeing a record energy price cap increase of 54%. A typical household’s electricity and gas bills will go up by approximately £700 per year from 1st April. Approximately 18 million households on a standard tariff will see an average increase of £693 – from £1,277 to £1,971 per year. Approximately 4.5 million people on prepayment plans will see an increase of £708 going from roughly £1,309 to £2,017.
For those on fixed-rate payments, your energy bills will not rise immediately, however, many will see a significant increase when their deal ends. April 1st increase is only the beginning, as prices are expected to go up again in six months. In July, Ofgem will begin to calculate the new price cap based on the wholesale costs. Experts are warning the new cap will be about £2,500-£3,000 per year if there’s no shift in the market. As a result, a switch to AC is becoming more beneficial financially.
A zero-emissions future
The UK is committed to reducing emissions to zero by 2050. The Government has been taking drastic action with the Electric Vehicle Revolution in full effect. EV Chargers are being installed in people’s homes and on the road. With this, the production of Electric Vehicles is increasing. A key part of their plans toward zero emissions will likely be a gas boiler ban, starting as early as 2025. (For more information on the EV revolution and how you can prepare, visit Car-Charger.UK).
Why do we need a Boiler ban?
Currently, the government plans for new-build homes to be under a gas and oil boiler ban from 2025. On average 95% of UK homes are centrally heated, and the majority are reliant on gas or oil-fired boilers. Gas and oil are fossil fuels, meaning they release carbon dioxide (CO2) – a ‘greenhouse gas’ that harms the environment and has a huge impact on climate change. The UK was the first major country to make it law to have net-zero gas emissions by 2050. Consequently, it is now a legal requirement for that goal to be met.
Why switch to AC?
People think home AC is not all that common in the UK. However, a spike in hot weather at the end of May 2020 saw Google searches for different forms of air conditioning units soar by approximately 130% compared to the year before. So, the interest has the potential to grow year by year. Of course, there is going to be an investment into buying and then installing the air conditioning system into your home. However, this does work out better for you in the long term. First, AC systems will allow you to feel warm during winter and heat a space without needing central heating. Second, when the summer comes you can stay cool without having to keep windows and doors open. Third, modern-day units are also energy efficient and have smart connectivity meaning you can control them remotely. In fact, there are numerous benefits to AC. Please read our previous article here to find out more. You must have a qualified engineer install your air conditioning system. Please come to us here at ECS, for your Air Conditioning Install.