Ben Macpherson MSP has encouraged the City of Edinburgh Council to apply for a share of the Scottish Government’s £11m fund to deliver energy efficiency improvements to homes, businesses and public buildings and community projects.
The Northern and Leith MSP made his appeal as a further £11 million of funding was made available for councils across Scotland to make homes, public buildings and businesses more energy efficient.
The second wave of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) pilot fund will help local authorities test new and innovative energy-saving approaches which can then be taken forward when SEEP is rolled out fully in 2018, once the Scotland Bill brings further devolution of energy efficiency powers.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the latest phase at the new Silverdale Nursery in Dalmarnock, which received more than £60,000 from the first round of funding in June last year to connect the building to the energy centre built as part of the Commonwealth Games Village.
This funding is part of a wider £600,000 SEEP grant given to Glasgow City Council for domestic and non-domestic projects being carried out over the next two years.
The First Minister said: “This unprecedented large-scale, long-term programme will make our homes warmer and places of work more comfortable. It will also drive down energy bills and help us meet our ambitious climate change targets.
“The second round of SEEP pilot funding will support local authorities to develop projects that build on the successful work we have already carried out and ensure Scotland leads the way in energy efficiency.
“Silverdale Nursery is a great example of this funding being used to ensure local energy needs can be met more efficiently and cheaper, whilst also helping tackle climate change. The nursery will be a great future learning environment for children across the area and will safeguard nine existing jobs as well as creating 16 new ones.
“This is an extremely exciting time for early learning and childcare as we take forward the most significant expansion ever seen in Scotland – almost doubling free provision to 1140 hours by 2020.
“By providing the best possible start in life we can ensure our young people develop the skills and confidence they need to reach their full potential, we know this is particularly true for children who face the greatest disadvantage.
“Since 2008 over one million energy efficiency measures have been delivered to almost one million Scottish households. We have already invested more than £650 million since 2009 – and are committed to making another £0.5 billion available over the next four years – to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency across Scotland.”
Leader of Glasgow City Council, Frank McAveety welcomed the First Minister to the Silverdale Nursery site and said:
“This is the third new nursery to be built in Glasgow as part of the council’s £255 million 4Rs estate strategy to replace or refurbish nurseries and primaries in Glasgow. We welcome the additional £60,000 SEEP funding as part of the overall £4.2million building costs. The SEEP funding will be managed by the council’s Affordable Warmth Team.”
SNP MSP Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith is keen that Edinburgh takes advantage too. He said: “The Scottish Government’s £11m funding pot to help improve energy efficiency in homes, businesses and public buildings in Scotland is a great opportunity for local communities, supporting local projects that build on the successful work already carried out and ensuring Scotland leads the way in energy efficiency.
“I am calling on the City of Edinburgh Council to submit proposals on how they’d use this funding to help meet local energy needs more efficiently and at a lower cost, whilst also helping tackle climate change.
“The SNP Government has delivered almost one million energy efficiency measures to almost one million Scottish households since 2008 and invested more than £650 million over the last eight years. I’d encourage as many communities as possible to come up with their own proposals to make use of this vital funding to help transform energy efficiency in their area.”
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