Government air conditioning grants explained: Who can get up to £2,500 in free cash?

Another UK heatwave is sending temperatures soaring leaving households looking for ways to cut eth cost of keeping cool.

What many people don't realise is that the government now offers grants of up to £2,500 towards certain types of air conditioning.

Air-to-air heat pumps cool your home in summer and heat it during winter.

Funding can be claimed through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

We explain what the grant covers, who can apply and whether it's worth considering.

Can I get a government grant for air conditioning?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government grant designed to help homeowners replace fossil fuel heating and cooling systems with low-carbon alternatives.

A grant is lump sum of money that doesn't need to be paid back.

From May 2026, the scheme was expanded to include air-to-air heat pumps, which work like reversible air conditioning systems helping to cool in summer and then warm up your home in winter.

If you qualify for the grant, you can up to £2,500 towards the cost of installing one.

The exact price of air-to-air heat pumps prices will depend on the size of your home and the number of indoor units required.

However, small systems typically start from around £2,000, so a grant could easily cover a decent chunk of the price.

The BUS scheme has a total budget of £2.4 billion to give out between April 2026 and March 2030.

Who can get the £2,500 BUS aircon grant?

To qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you generally need to:

• Own the property you're applying for.

• Be replacing a fossil fuel heating system - such as a gas or oil fuelled boiler.

• Use an installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

• It must also be a residential property

You should not that not every property will be suitable for an air-to-air heat pump.

However, an installer will assess this before work begins.

You can also get an idea through the government's Heat Pump Check service.

How do you apply for the BUS grant?

You don't apply directly to the government yourself.

Instead contact an installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) - you can find one on the MCS certified installer site.

The installer will check whether your property is eligible and if it qualifies, the installer applies for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme voucher on your behalf.

The grant is deducted from the installation cost, so you don't usually receive the money directly.

Always get more than one quote before committing to an installation so that you get the best possible price.

Air conditioning vs heat pump running costs

An air-to-air heat pump is effectively a reversible air conditioning system. It cools your home in summer and heats it in winter using the same technology.

When used for cooling, the running costs of an air-to-air heat pump are broadly similar to those of a fixed air conditioning unit because they're performing the same job.

However, when used for the pumps are generally much more energy efficient than traditional electric heaters.

How to save money on air conditioning

Air conditioning units are pricier to run than traditional fans.

However, there are some ways to keep costs down.

Set the system to around 24–26°C rather than the lowest setting and keep windows and doors closed while it's running.

Use a timer instead of leaving it on continuously and only cool only the room you're using, if your system allows it.

You can also close curtains or blinds during the hottest part of the day to stop the sun warming your home and making the aircon work harder.

Remember to clean or replace filters regularly so the unit works efficiently.