If you are living in Scotland and are a home owner, you may have heard of the Renewable Heat Incentive Scotland Scheme but it is likely that you don’t know much about it. Running a home is expensive, between paying your mortgage, your electricity and heating bills and the general purchasing and maintenance costs of household appliances and furnishings. In recent years more and more members of the public have been investigating alternative heating technologies that run on renewable energy as opposed to traditional methods. However due to such technologies being relatively new and technologically advanced, the average working person found the expense to be too much. Thankfully the renewable heat incentive Scotland is a refreshing scheme prompted by the government which encourages people to uptake renewable heat technologies in both domestic and commercial properties.
What is the Renewable Heat Incentive Scotland?
This is a monetary incentive implemented through companies such as Heat Pumps Scotland that install renewable energy heating appliances. Any property owner that has a renewable energy source active in their property is entitled to a heating grant in Scotland and the rest of the UK. The whole idea sprang from the government’s plan to have to have 12% of all heating coming from renewable energy in the UK by 2020. In order to lower the carbon emissions throughout the country the UK government are targeting properties that are off the gas grid and that would typically have a high usage of energy fuels.
Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scotland
There are two parts to the scheme which have separate tariffs, joining conditions, rules and application processes. The Domestic RHI was launched in 2014 and offers monetary incentives over a course of seven years to the property owner. A property is recognised as domestic if it heats only a single property which can earn a domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scotland
When a renewable energy heating appliance is located within a commercial, public or industrial property the non-domestic RHI applies. Community heating schemes (where one heating system supplies heat to multiple properties) are also classed as non-domestic.
Why You Should Apply for the Scheme
There is more to the scheme than just money. Effectively you are being rewarded for using heating appliances that are far more environmentally responsible than traditional heating methods. It is more important now than ever before that we actively try to reduce our carbon emissions. A sure way to do so is by swapping unsustainable heating methods to renewable energy sources. By doing so you are also setting up an opportunity for conversation amongst neighbours and friends which will hopefully encourage those around you to do the same.
How Much Money You Will Receive
The amount of money you receive through the Renewable Heat Incentive Scotland depends on multiple variables and will differ from property to property. First of all it will depend on the type of system you have installed and the amount of energy you save using this system as opposed to your previous traditional heating appliance.
