The Scottish Government has defied cuts to energy efficiency programmes initiated by Westminster to launch a £224 million scheme to help as many as 28,000 Scottish homes combat fuel poverty.
The Warmer Homes Scotland programme will operate over the next seven years and install various energy-saving measures such as insulation, heating and a number of domestic renewable technologies in households identified as fuel poor.
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said that the scheme was launched to deliver the “best possible help” to those in Scotland “blighted by fuel poverty, struggling to keep their homes warm and pay their energy bills”.
A hotline has been launched alongside the programme to provide free advice on reducing heating and energy bills, while also advising residents on which home energy improvement schemes they would be eligible to take advantage of.
“This scheme helps householders who are struggling with their energy bills with really practical support, helping them right the way through the process from the time they call up through to when the work is done,” Mike Thornton, director of government services at the Energy Saving Trust, said.
