Homeowners who replace their existing boiler with a high efficiency oil-fired condensing version will now be eligible for £310 cashback, as part of the recently-announced cashback scheme to promote the launch of the Green Deal.

Up to £40 million of government funding has been set aside to help householders improve the energy efficiency of their homes by upgrading insulation, windows and heating systems. The more improvements people make, the more they can claim, with the cashback available from 28 January, 2013, when the Green Deal is made available for households in England and Wales.

To qualify, householders must get a Green Deal assessment and arrange for the work to be carried out through a Green Deal Providers. OFTEC is already offering Green Deal registration for installers to take advantage of the new scheme. Assessments can be done at any time before the scheme opens, so customers will then be ready to apply for their cashback vouchers. Both owner occupiers and landlords are eligible for the scheme, providing they pay part of the installation costs.

Initial cashback rates have been set at £100 for loft insulation, £250 for cavity wall insulation and £390 for flat roof insulation. Other energy improvement measures are also included. Cashback will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and once the initial £40 million funding has been used the cashback rates are likely to reduce.