Mitsubishi Electric's Ecodan range of residential air source heat pumps is now CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) funded, meaning that all equipment installed and working before March 31, 2011 will be eligible for an average rebate of £500.
'The actual amount that can be claimed will depend on the size of the property and the type of heating being replaced but it could be anything from a couple of hundred pounds for a small flat to around £1,400 for a large house replacing solid fuel,' explained John Kellett, general manager of the company's Domestic Heating Systems Division.
The one-off payment is made directly to the home owner, housing association, or landlord and can apply to any domestic property. Higher levels of funding are available to those in priority groups such as the elderly and those on benefits with young children.
Ecodan is claimed to be the only air source heat pump with an approved Ofgem carbon score and this can now be used for the CERT funding scheme in a partnership between British Gas and Mitsubishi Electric.
During live trials, Mitsubishi Electric accumulated the equivalent of eight years of monitoring data which Kellett believes was instrumental in achieving the carbon rating and the partnership with British Gas.
'We have proved that Ecodan can cope efficiently through the worst of the British winter and will deliver year-round reductions in both carbon emissions and fuel bills over all traditional forms of heating,' added Mr Kellett.
The CERT programme has been in existence since 2008 and has focused largely on improving the energy efficiency and insulation of UK homes. The target is all about reducing CO2 emissions and obliges the energy companies to take steps that ensure the amount of carbon from homes is reduced.
For further details on CERT Funding for Ecodan units visit www.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/domesticheating