Council extends deadline for public consultation on energy efficiency

Residents have two weeks left to share their views on a long-term plan for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving energy efficiency throughout Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) sets out a strategic approach which addresses all buildings in the Edinburgh area, from the Council’s own estate to private homes and workplaces.

The Delivery Plan, which concentrates on actions between 2024 and 2028, sets out short to medium term actions associated with the implementation of the Edinburgh LHEES.

Among the actions are piloting the installation of heat pumps in specially selected areas of Edinburgh, formally designating “heat network zones” in Edinburgh, and increasing solar installations across the city.

The consultation, which closes on Sunday 3 March, will build on the engagement and consultation carried out to date.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “We’ve extended the deadline for our consultation to make sure everyone has their say on our exciting plans to decarbonise the heat supply of buildings and improve energy efficiency.

“We’ve set the ambitious target to become a net zero city by 2030 and, although we’re making good progress, this plan will help us continue to lead the way in our efforts.

“The plan is relevant to all owners and occupiers of Edinburgh’s buildings so it’s important that everyone has their say. I would urge everyone who is yet to do so to visit our website and follow the necessary steps to share their feedback.”

Find out more and share views.

Edinburgh residents urged to give their views on energy efficiency

The City of Edinburgh Council is asking residents to give their feedback on a long-term plan for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving energy efficiency.

With six weeks to go until the consultation closes on 3 March, residents across the capital are being asked to share their views on the Edinburgh Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) and Delivery Plan. Available to take part in online, the results will be used to build on the engagement and consultation carried out to date.

The Council has prepared the Edinburgh LHEES, along with a Delivery Plan, in response to the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (Scotland) Order 2022. The policy requires all Scottish local authorities to publish a LHEES, and a Delivery Plan, by the end of 2023.

The Edinburgh LHEES sets out a strategic approach which aims to improve the energy efficiency and decarbonise the heat supply of buildings. It also plans to eliminate poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.

Using an area-wide approach, the plan addresses all buildings in the Edinburgh area, not just the Council’s own building stock.

The Delivery Plan, which focuses on actions between 2024 and 2028, sets out short to medium term actions associated with the implementation of the strategy. It prioritises areas where actions may be easier, cheaper, or have a known outcome. For example, adding loft insultation means less heat escapes through the loft.

Councillor Cammy Day, Council Leader, said: “My thanks go to everyone who has taken the time to share their views with us so far. The unfortunate reality is that we are in a climate emergency.

“There is still time to avert disaster if we take bold and immediate action at the speed and scale necessary. That’s why we have set the ambitious but necessary target for Edinburgh to become a net zero city by 2030.

“Whilst we continue to lead the way in our efforts, we still have a long road ahead to reach our goal in addressing the climate and nature emergencies. As part of our work, I am pleased to welcome the Edinburgh Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy and Delivery Plan which sets out how our buildings can move to net zero.

“The plan is relevant to all owners and occupiers of Edinburgh’s buildings, but it can only be delivered by the combined effort of all of us.  I’m very keen to engage with our residents on this important plan and hope this consultation allows them the opportunity to have their voices heard.”

The consultation closes on Sunday 3 March. Find out more and share views here.

Tomorrow: Future-proof your home!

Happening this Wednesday evening, 7pm at Stockbridge Parish Church!

Find out how you can make your tenement flat or house more energy efficient, find funding to support you, and save money on your bills.

👉

Register here: http://bit.ly/StockbridgeEvent

Council and Changeworks insulate homes in Oxgangs

In partnership with the leading environmental charity Changeworks, the City of Edinburgh Council is helping homeowners transform the energy efficiency of their homes.

Making 166 homes in Oxgangs warmer and fit for the future by improving external wall insulation, more than 50 properties have already received major improvements with over a hundred others to be completed by the Spring.

Funding is provided by the Scottish Government through the Energy Efficient Scotland; Area based Scheme (EES:ABS). These area-based schemes are designed and delivered by councils with local delivery partners. They target fuel-poor areas to provide energy efficiency measures to a large number of Scottish homes while delivering emission savings and helping to reduce fuel poverty.

The schemes in Oxgangs are helping households make major improvements to their home at a significantly lowered cost. Some households even qualify to have the work done for free, completely removing the financial burden for households at a time when that relief could not be more needed. Installing insulation makes it cheaper and easier to heat the home, meaning householders can expect to save on their heating bills.

Oxgangs is an area that does suffer from a higher rate of poverty than other areas of the city and all houses included in the project are in Council Tax bands A to C. This project, with a total funding of £1.9 million, is targeted at reaching those most in need. The EES:ABS scheme is open to private householders and mixed tenure blocks have been targeted too, benefitting both social housing tenants and private householders. The Council is directly funding the works to Council homes. 

Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: Most of the homes in the area are receiving external wall insulation which means their homes will keep more heat in. This is important because it means more Oxgangs residents are going to see their homes stay warmer for longer, at a time when temperatures are low but energy bills are worryingly high.

As people become more conscious of their energy use, these projects will have a real impact – both on the planet and Edinburgh’s net zero goals and on the lives of homeowners and tenants who need this support now, more than ever.

One resident who received the external wall insulation is Catherine Murray, who says she’s “delighted” with the difference it’s made. She said: “My house is warmer, much warmer, it’s really noticeable. I don’t need the heating on as much, I put it on in the morning and then the house is fine until I put it on again at about 7 or 8 until I go to bed. If I’m in the living room, it contains the heat.

“We’re on the main road and the people that pass stop and look, it’s amazing. People stop to comment on it.

“It really brightens the place up, I don’t get out much anymore but when I do, it makes you feel better when you do come into the area, you can really see the difference between the ones that have been done and the ones that haven’t been done, it’s great. I really appreciate the work that’s been done.”

Most of the homes in the area are receiving external wall insulation installed by contractor SERS. Not only does this mean that their homes will keep more heat in, keeping them warmer for longer and requiring less energy to heat, it provides a complete refresh of the outside of the property too.

With it being an external insulation measure, there’s no work done inside the house.

Alongside the Oxgangs project which is currently underway there are four other retrofit schemes in Edinburgh which form part of the EES:ABS 2022/23 programme.

These include an external wall insulation and solar PV scheme in Gilmerton, a fabric improvement programme in Murrayburn and Drumbryden, a citywide internal wall insulation roll out and hard-to-treat cavity and solar PV works across the EH16 and EH17 postcode areas.

To register your interest in similar schemes should they become available in your area, fill in this simple online form.

Scotland’s Climate Week: Firms receive £9.4m to help cut carbon

Decarbonisation fund recipients announced as applications re-open

Ten companies have been awarded a total of £9.4 million to help Scottish industries reduce carbon emissions through decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects.

The recipients from the second round of the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF) are predominantly involved in the manufacturing and food and drink sectors.

The projects include a more energy efficient dryer at a seaweed processing facility, whilst several brewers and whisky distilleries will also receive funding for projects that aim to reduce the emissions that are created during energy-intensive manufacturing processes.

The projects awarded funding have the potential to reduce emissions by 40,482 tonnes of CO2 a year, the equivalent of the annual emissions from 17,000 households.

A further £160,000 has also been made available to conduct up to four engineering or feasibility studies into future projects that will aim to reduce emissions and increase efficiency within the sector by creating a pipeline of future projects.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the funding while visiting Graham’s Family Dairy, where previous SIETF funding allowed them to upgrade steam production and heat distribution infrastructure.

The First Minister said: “Reducing emissions in our manufacturing sector will be a crucial step in ensuring Scotland reaches its net zero target by 2045.

“I am pleased that the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund continues to support companies across the sector to embrace decarbonisation, improve efficiency and reduce their impact on the environment.

“This week is Scotland’s Climate Week, which puts a renewed focus upon the ongoing climate emergency and our efforts to tackle it. And as households and businesses struggle with rising energy costs, it has never been more important to support industry to become more energy efficient.

“I welcome the work that the Fund has already supported and I hope that many more businesses will apply in the future.”

Up to £34 million of Scottish Government funding will be made available through the lifetime of the five-year SIETF, which runs until 2026. The third round of applications is now live.

Robert B Graham, Managing Director at Graham’s Family Dairy said: “The SIETF programme has enabled us to accelerate our industrial decarbonisation programme, driving energy efficiencies and reducing waste.

“SIETF funding support has meant we have been able to deliver a number of process decarbonisation projects in parallel, to achieve scalable impact across our supply chain and share results to support Scottish industry & businesses with their journey to net zero.”

Peter Davison and Kieran Healey-Ryder from the Sustainability Leadership Team at Whyte & Mackay, which has secured second round funding, said: “As whisky makers we believe in a sustainable future for what we do here on Jura.

“This Scottish Government programme is a galvanising platform for industry to come together and solve for a green future right across these islands.

“This grant will accelerate our journey towards a sustainable future for whisky making here on Jura.”

The Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund was launched on 11 December 2020. The first recipients of SIETF were announced on 8 October 2021.

SIETF supports industrial sites with high energy use to transition to a low carbon future. It will improve the international competitiveness of many companies whilst protecting jobs.

The application window for the third round of projects will remain open until 18 November 2022.

The second round of recipients of SIETF funding are detailed below:

NameCompetitionSectorLocationTechnology
Grant offered: over £2m
DSM Nutritional ProductsDeploymentFood and drinkEast AyrshireMechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) technology
Whyte & MackayDeploymentFood and drinkArgyle and ButeSteam boiler with biomass fuel burner and flue gas purification
Grant offered: £1m – £2m
Pauls MaltDeploymentFood and drinkAngusThe installation of a hot water network and CHP
Grant offered: £500k – £1m
BrewdogDeploymentFood and drinkAberdeenshireFood grade (green) CO2 production via CO2 capture
Carbon Capture ScotlandDeploymentDry Ice ProductionDumfries and GallowayCO2 Feedstock Recycling
Uist AscoDeploymentManufacturingWestern IslesInstallation of a more efficient dryer with heat recovery
UPMDeploymentManufacturingEast AyrshireReplace existing pumps with three energy efficient turbo blowers
Grant offered: £250k – £500k
DiageoDeploymentFood and DrinkAberdeenshireInstallation of High Temperature Heat Pump
MacphieDeploymentFood and DrinkAberdeenshireConversion of oil fired steam plant to natural gas
Tennent’sDeploymentFood and DrinkGlasgow CityAir compressor and spent grain transfer and smart air injection and spent grain removal technology
Grant offered: £100k – 250k
DSM Nutritional ProductsDeploymentFood and drinkEast AyrshireHeat recovery DCM evaporator and preheat feed effluent columns
Grant offered: under £125k (study only)
DiageoStudyFood and drinkFifeNatural gas to electricity transition
GlenAllachie DistilleryStudyFood and drinkMorayMechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) technology
IneosStudyPetrochemicalsFalkirkEnergy efficiency of pyrolysis furnaces
TennentsStudyFood and drinkGlasgow CityInvestigation of low carbon heat pump technology

Scotland’s Climate Week 2022: Edinburgh’s commitment

City council leader Cammy Day said yesterday: The climate crisis represents the single greatest threat to all humankind, and it is something that we must face together.

Whilst recent events such as the death of Her Majesty The Queen, the ongoing cost of living crisis, and events in Ukraine have dominated our thoughts and indeed the news cycle, we must now turn our efforts back to arguably the most pressing issue of our time. 

As Scotland’s Climate Week begins today, I would like to reiterate our commitment to becoming a net-zero city by 2030 and spearheading the climate fightback here in Scotland’s Capital. This is a cornerstone of the Council’s long-term goals, and I am determined that we will play our role in the wider climate effort.  

As Council Leader I will be attending the UK100’s Climate Leadership Academy this autumn. This programme for leaders across the UK will provide knowledge on decarbonisation, financial transition, energy, and nature/adaption.

I relish the opportunity to speak to other local government leaders from across the country and the political spectrum. The climate crisis is a collective problem and as such requires a collective and cooperative solution.

To achieve net-zero, everyone must play their part in driving climate action. A reduction in emissions needs to take place across all areas of society and business sectors. Overwhelmingly, the scientific evidence clearly shows that to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, the increasing global temperature must be limited to 1.5°C.

Here in Edinburgh, we are already on our way to becoming a greener city.

This summer we launched a citywide network of electric vehicle chargers located on streets and at park and ride sites, which will help people to choose cleaner, low emission electric cars.

In June the city was awarded silver status by the Sustainable Food Places Network, recognising the Capital’s pioneering work to promote healthy and sustainable food. The City of Edinburgh Council was also ranked third in the UK by Climate Emergency UK in their scorecard of local authority’s climate action plans.

Edinburgh’s ten-year City Mobility Plan aims to transform the way we move around the city, reducing emissions and air pollution, positively impacting public health, and tackling congestion amongst other benefits. Actions include projects like City Centre TransformationTrams to NewhavenGeorge Street and First New Town20-Minute Neighbourhoods and the extension of 20mph speed limits, as well as behaviour change initiatives and seamless public transport ticketing.

At the start of #ScotClimateWeek I would like to call upon our fantastic residents, businesses, and partner organisations to renew their climate commitments. Our dedicated climate webpage  is filled with information on Edinburgh’s 2030 climate strategy, tracking our progress and climate action in the city. I would encourage everyone to educate themselves on the climate crisis and find out how small, individual changes can make a lasting impact.

Encouraging people to consider alternatives to travel by car like walking, wheeling, cycling and travel by public transport is essential to our net zero goals and we’ve set a target of reducing the kms travelled by car in Edinburgh by 30% by 2030. Last week we marked Car Free Day and this Sunday (2 October) we’ll be holding a fun event on Waverley Bridge to celebrate the occasion. The area will be transformed into an inclusive community hub of information, inspiration and activity encouraging people to consider more sustainable forms of transport.

There is also an Edinburgh Net-Zero events page and Climate Fringe Festival Calendar find out what’s going on in Edinburgh for Scotland’s Climate Week. 

We remain in the midst of a challenging fight against climate change, and the significant impacts that are already being felt across the globe. However, I remain confident that our capital city and its people will persevere and play their part in this shared effort to make our planet a safer, sustainable, and more prosperous place to live.  

The Colonies: Future Proofing Your Home – free information event tonight

Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council are hosting this free Home Energy Scotland event at Edinburgh Academy this evening.

Find out how you can make your home more energy efficient and save money on your fuel bills.

The event starts at 7pm.

Tackling the cost of living crisis

Support is being expanded to improve the energy efficiency of homes and tackle energy costs.  

In response to the cost of living crisis, three key Scottish Government energy efficiency and heat programmes will be boosted from April.

These include:

  • Expanding the Home Energy Scotland (HES) advice service, which provides free, impartial advice available to all households in Scotland on making homes warmer, greener and easier to heat. Capacity will be increased by 20% to support an extra 12,000 households a year, whilst a service offering bespoke advice to the most vulnerable households will be doubled.
  • Widening the eligibility criteria of the Scottish Government’s flagship Warmer Homes Scotland fuel poverty programme to include more groups within the 60 – 75 years age range.
  • Increasing the level of funding individual fuel poor households could benefit from through the local authority-led Area Based Schemes.

More than £160 million of funding is being invested this year to help make Scotland’s homes and buildings warmer and more efficient, supporting efforts to tackle fuel poverty whilst helping householders manage their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie said: “Everyone needs a safe, warm place to call home. I am acutely aware that soaring energy prices will be causing many people to worry about the cost of their fuel bills and it is vital that people struggling with energy bills get the information and support they need, while governments step up with appropriate actions.

“We are using all powers and resources available to us to support people through the cost of living crisis and the Scottish Budget last month included a package of measures to provide immediate help with rising bills. At the same time, powers relating to energy markets remain reserved and we have repeatedly called for the UK Government to urgently take further, tangible actions to support households.

“However, immediate help also has to go side by side with longer term action. Investing in energy efficiency is the best buffer against the ebb and flow of global energy prices.  That is why we are boosting energy efficiency programmes today and over the whole parliamentary term.”

Householders can access free and impartial support through Home Energy Scotland to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Home Energy Scotland can be contacted on their freephone number 0808 808 2282 or via the Home Energy Scotland website

Saving energy in Wester Hailes

Five hundred households, both private and council-owned, living in mixed tenure properties across the Wester Hailes area are to benefit from energy efficient upgrades and revitalised buildings.

This follows an extensive large-scale common repairs and maintenance works programme to renovate 66 low-rise blocks in the first year due to complete by summer this year (2022).

This is part of the City of Edinburgh Council’s ground-breaking three-year Mixed Tenure Improvement Service (MTIS) pilot which gave an update on progress to date for the blocks across Murrayburn, Drumbryden and Hailesland to the Finance and Resources Committee today (3 March).

The programme will now be rolled out across the city to help accelerate energy efficiency fabric maintenance and repairs in mixed tenure blocks to benefit more tenants. This is due to the success of the pilot to date in engaging with private owners – with scheme decisions to progress being made in 75% of minority council-owned blocks – and securing sizable energy efficiency grant support through the Scottish Government Energy Efficient Scotland, Area Based Scheme.

Councillors have also agreed to extend the Council’s Scheme of Assistance (SoA). This will, as part of the MTIS, offer enhanced debt repayment terms* to help all private owner occupiers meet their repairs and maintenance responsibilities and allow them to consider more options for funding their share of the cost of works within all Council-led capital improvement, mixed tenure property projects.

Works being carried out on behalf of all owners across the current MTIS pilot includes repairs and replacement of roofing, guttering, drying room facades, installation of external wall and attic insulation, together with the maintenance and decoration of communal stairwell spaces.

This MTIS pilot is aiming to carry this out in 181 mixed tenure blocks in Murrayburn, Hailesland and Dumbryden over a three-year period to the benefit of all residents and tenants, improving the aesthetics, energy efficiency, safety and security and the overall value of properties in the long term.

Cllr Kate Campbell, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Bringing all our housing stock up to a good condition, making homes energy efficient, warm and affordable to heat is very important, both for tenants and for owners in these blocks.

“Council officers have worked hard to support private owners throughout this MTIS pilot. As a result, we’re helping owner occupiers meet their share of the energy efficiency improvement works by supporting them to access up to £15,500 each in Energy Efficient Scotland (EES) funding. Supporting private owner occupiers with enhanced re-payment terms will help too, and this is now being extended to others in a similar situation.

“The mixed tenure improvement service continues to be an incredibly successful as a pilot, and I’m so pleased that we are expanding this programme as it will play a crucial role in dealing with the legacy issues caused by right to buy. We can now invest in many more homes making much needed improvements to homes and blocks across the city.”

Cllr Mandy Watt, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Vice Convener, said: “We have a long way to go as part of this three-year programme to improve 181 blocks but this has been a great start.

“In this pilot’s first year we will have improved the standard of living and conditions of a huge number of people in Wester Hailes. The buildings that we’ve completed so far look fantastic and really lift the look and feel of these neighbourhoods.

“We hope once the programme has been completed across all of Murrayburn, Hailesland and Dumbryden, the communities will feel a real sense of pride in their homes which fit in so much better with the new build developments close by.

“We have strong ambitions as a Council and as a city to become a sustainable and net zero Capital by 2030. Housing is a huge factor in getting there and getting our existing housing stock better insulated and energy efficient will be key – which in turn will help to keep people warmer while helping to reduce energy bills.”

* extending the period for payment plans with the Council for owner occupiers to up to 15 years and a reduction in the interest rate from 6% to 4%.

Barratt is leading the way in delivering eco-friendly homes

Environmentally-minded buyers can save thousands with new green deals being offered by housebuilder

Barratt Developments Scotland is leading the way in delivering eco-friendly homes to buyers in Scotland, and is well on its way to meeting top energy efficiency standards set out by the Scottish Government.

Latest research by the UK’s largest housebuilder, which owns Barratt and David Wilson homes, shows that all of Barratt’s new homes (100 per cent) are built to a minimum EPC rating of B or above.

This puts Barratt ahead of schedule in meeting the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, which sets housebuilders an ambitious target to achieve a good standard of energy efficiency, and by 2033 to meet at least an EPC band C standard.

All new homes are given an EPC rating between A and G, with A being the most energy efficient in terms of likely fuel costs and carbon dioxide emissions, but there are currently no legal requirements on a minimum EPC rating for new build homes.

The housebuilder has also announced a new partnership with Halifax bank that now offers green mortgages to environmentally-minded buyers, which means that those purchasing Barratt’s energy-efficient homes could be offered a larger loan with lower interest rates as a consequence of their smaller anticipated energy bills.

Doug McLeod, regional managing director for Barratt Developments in Scotland, believes newly-built properties’ eco credentials could soon be the ultimate selling point for homeowners, in particular first-time buyers struggling to get on the property market. He said: “A new generation of homebuyers could find new homes with green credentials as their only affordable option.

“We know that energy spending can be a major household outgoing and a big part of the consideration when buying a new home. Environmental considerations are also becoming increasingly important for home buyers as we search for ways to create a net zero carbon emission society, and at Barratt Homes we are committed to playing our part by enabling our customers to make greener choices when it comes to buying a new house.

“The affordability of some of the green mortgage deals, combined with the energy efficiency and cheaper running costs of new build homes, are already leading to more and more first-time buyers taking the new build route into home ownership.”

It’s not the first time Barratt has taken a lead for the housebuilding industry.

Last month, Barratt launched a unique flagship zero carbon home concept called the Z House that will be occupied and monitored to assess its performance. And last year, the company announced its commitment to reduce direct carbon emissions by 29 per cent by 2025 and to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations by 2040.

The winner of Sustainable House Builder of the Year, Barratt will also cut its indirect carbon emissions (those coming from its homes and from its supply chain) by 24 per cent per square metre by 2030. Building lower carbon homes and using more sustainable materials will be a key part of achieving this target.

It will also deliver new zero carbon standard house types from 2030 and ensure that 100 per cent of the electricity that it purchases will be renewable by 2025.

As the country’s largest housebuilder, Doug McLeod, says they have a major role to play in looking after the environment in a sustainable way for future generations, whilst also delivering the homes this country urgently needs.

All new Barratt homes are up to 57 per cent cheaper to run, meaning homeowners could save up to £1,410 on their bills each year compared to an updated Victorian equivalent property.

They come with features such as modern double glazing fitted with argon gas that is designed to capture the sunlight and flood rooms with light, as well as smart technologies which include solar panels, highly efficient boilers, heat recovery, and increased insulation in walls, floors and roofs to make sure that draughts won’t cause winter chills.

David Balfour, account director at New Homes Mortgage Scotland, said: “We are increasingly hearing from our customers that they’re interested in purchasing an energy efficient home as they prioritise environmentally-friendly lifestyles. 

“Green mortgages are most commonly available on new build homes where homebuyers could benefit from cheaper rates and cashback incentives. 

“Eligibility for many of the green mortgage deals is linked to the property’s EPC rating – for example, it might need to be A or B. A large proportion of the UK’s housing stock is old. This is one reason why more and more homeowners and first-time buyers are choosing new build properties that are sold with excellent EPC ratings of B and above.”

Reducing carbon emissions and having the top energy efficiency ratings in new build homes isn’t the only way Barratt is helping to save the planet. They are also making wildlife-friendly places to live through their partnership with RSPB, the country’s largest nature conservation charity.

By 2023 Barratt will further prioritise wildlife on all new developments by creating dedicated spaces for local biodiversity conservation, installing a range of wildlife-friendly features including hedgehog hideaways and swift nesting sites. Beyond 2023 their goal is to have at least 10 per cent more wildlife habitats in and around developments, delivering a clear biodiversity net gain across the country.

Green mortgage case study (Edinburgh)

Graeme Pearson, aged 37, has swapped his draughty Victorian tenement flat with old timber sash and case windows and extremely high ceilings for a three-bed end terrace Barratt home in Edinburgh. He moved in with his partner in November 2021 and is looking forward to a more energy efficient and quick heating home with lower fuel bills.

Graeme, who has benefited from a green mortgage deal with a lower interest rate and cash back deal through Barratt’s partnership with Halifax, said: “My last home was an old Victorian tenement flat that was almost impossible to heat and had draughts everywhere.

“It could be bitterly cold in the winter so my partner and I are very much looking forward to our brand new Barratt home that has plenty of eco credentials to shout about, from below slab insulation to efficient uPVC windows. I also opted for the installation of a convection hob as I believe moving away from gas cooking is an important step towards future sustainability, and we have solar panels on the roof.

“I might consider installing an EV charging point in the future and running a cable across the footway to an adjacent parking space.”

For more information on Barratt’s eco-friendly homes, visit 

www.barratthomes.co.uk.

£64 million for local heat and energy efficiency projects

A programme to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency will receive an extra £9 million of funding this year to support a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and help fuel poor households save money on their heating bills.

The Scottish Government’s Area Based Scheme (ABS) programme will provide over £64 million in 2021/22 – up from £55 million the year before – to enable every local authority in Scotland to deliver energy efficiency measures to fuel poor households and communities.

The work forms part of a £1.6 billion investment over the next five years to transform the heat and energy efficiency of buildings. The Scottish Government’s draft Heat in Buildings strategy sets out a vision for more than one million homes to be using low and zero emissions heating systems by 2030.

ABS projects have helped deliver energy efficiency improvements to more than 100,000 homes since the programme launched in 2013. That has generated cumulative savings for household fuel bills worth over £900 million while reducing CO2 emissions by over 3.4 million tonnes.

Local ABS projects plan to install low and zero emissions heating systems in more than 500 homes this year, as well as insulation and other improvements such as solar panels and battery storage.

Net Zero and Energy Secretary Michael Matheson visited Hillpark in Glasgow to announce this year’s ABS funding plans.

Mr Matheson said: “We are wholly committed to ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change and, crucially, doing so in a way that is fair for everyone and leaves no-one behind.

“Reducing emissions from heating our homes is one of the most important things we can do to ensure we become a net-zero society by 2045. It will require us all to take action and everyone across Scotland will need to play their part in making sure our homes and buildings are fit for a net-zero future.

“We are committed to rapidly scaling-up action, but doing so in a way that ensures that our fuel poverty objectives and our commitment to tackling climate change work together, ensuring a fair and just transition to net zero.

“I am pleased to confirm increased funding for this year’s ABS programme, which continues to support on-the-ground delivery of projects making a tangible and positive difference – not just to greenhouse gas emissions, but to people’s lives.”

Councillor Kenny McLean, City Convener for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Public Realm at Glasgow City Council, said: “The ABS programme in Glasgow has made a huge impact in many households in Glasgow, lowering energy bills and reducing carbon emissions.

“The increase in funding will allow continued economic, environmental and social benefits to be delivered as a result.”

Area Based Schemes are delivered by local authorities targeting fuel poor areas and communities. ABS funding also targets the `hardest to treat’ properties requiring external wall or complex cavity wall insulation, making homes warmer and less expensive to heat.

By leveraging investment by private and social landlords, ECO finance and Scottish Government funding, ABS projects have been particularly successful in delivering improvements for multi-occupancy properties such as flats and tenements, as well as whole streets.