Scotland will introduce a major domestic energy efficiency programme that aims to increase the efficiency of 28,000 homes across the country.
The national scheme will set aside £224 million of funding to install insulation, low-carbon heating, and renewable measures on houses identified as living in fuel poverty. In addition, the scheme will look to actively help the sizeable number of properties that live off the main gas grid in Scotland by offering solar thermal and biomass solutions.
Housing minister, Margaret Burgess explained the importance of the new scheme, stating: “This new scheme will give vulnerable households living in fuel poverty access to even more measures to make their homes energy efficient. These will be tailored to meet their needs to stop them from paying unnecessarily high fuel bills.
“By making sure people in the islands and in more rural parts of the country, have the same chances to make their homes, warmer, cheaper and easier to heat, we are tackling the inequalities that exist in our country.
“It will provide vulnerable people or those on low incomes, with heating or insulation measures, and will help thousands of Scots across the country have homes that are easier and cheaper to heat.”
The £224 million contract was awarded to Warmworks Scotland, a joint venture with Energy Savings Trust, Changeworks and Everwam, last week. The Scottish government says that the body will be able to deliver the same level of service to people living in remote Scotland due to the agent being able to vary the delivery costs between six regions. Burgess added that the wider community will also benefit thanks to vocational training and employment opportunities.
Mike Thornton, Energy Saving Trust director of government services, outlined the proposed process for obtaining support: “The scheme will provide a more integrated step-by-step service to customers, from the initial referral through to the installation and beyond.
“Each customer will receive their own personal adviser and be supported through any complex issue or challenge they may face. This scheme will continue to help improve the lives of people in Scotland by making their homes warmer and more comfortable.”
Burgess concluded: “Since 2009 we have allocated over half a billion pounds to make Scotland’s homes more energy efficient with over 700,000 households benefitting from measures like new boilers or insulation, and this new scheme – alongside our other Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland – will build on this over the next seven years.”
