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Over £9 million to improve energy efficiency
Homes and businesses across 11 local authority areas will be warmer and cheaper to heat thanks to over £9 million of Scottish Government funding. Edinburgh will receive over £1 million.
“Too many children across Scotland are growing up in cold homes, with fuel poverty affecting four in every ten households.” – Martin Crewe, Barnardo’s Scotland
An alliance of civic organisations has called on the Scottish Government to end the blight of Scotland’s draughty, unhealthy homes by 2025. The call has been welcomed by the Scottish Greens, who say the government must go ‘further and faster’ to address the issue.
The Existing Homes Alliance, whose membership includes the Church of Scotland and the Federation of Master Builders, says the Scottish Government must take a long-term approach to improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s buildings.
By doing so many benefits will be realised, including helping to reduce fuel poverty, cutting household fuel bills, lowering climate change emissions, creating jobs and preventing ill-health.
The call follows a June announcement by the Scottish Government that it intends to make home energy efficiency a National Infrastructure Priority.
The Alliance groups are calling for the Scottish Government to set an ambitious goal for that project, by committing to a goal that by 2025 all homes in Scotland are at least an Energy Performance Certificate band ‘C’.
Alan Ferguson, Chair of the Existing Homes Alliance said: “It was great to see the Scottish Government’s commitment to make energy efficiency a National Infrastructure Priority. This is vital if we as a nation are to end fuel poverty blighting our homes and step up to the challenge of climate change. However, we now need to see concrete proposals and clear goals from the Scottish Government to make this happen. These should include a goal of helping all homes reach a C energy performance standard by 2025, and a commitment to major long-term funding to support investment in energy efficiency.”
Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland said: “Too many children across Scotland are growing up in cold homes, with fuel poverty affecting four in every ten households. The comprehensive Marmot review showed that this more than doubles their chances of suffering respiratory conditions like asthma, as well as impacting adversely on mental health, educational attainment and emotional wellbeing.
“Supporting all homes to reach a C standard will improve the physical and emotional health of families across Scotland and help to improve the life chances of Scotland’s most vulnerable children.”
Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary added: “Improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s homes is a huge opportunity to build a stronger economy and a more just Scotland. Research shows that bringing all homes up to at least a C energy performance standard would create 8-9,000 jobs a year distributed across communities in Scotland, new training and skills development opportunities and offer an excellent return on investment in generating employment and economic growth compared to other infrastructure investments.”
Alison Johnstone MSP, Health and Wellbeing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, welcomed the call from the alliance to radically improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing.
She said: “This call is very welcome and shows the need for government to go further and faster to tackle the blight of Scotland’s draughty, unhealthy homes.
“Last year Scottish ministers agreed with me that energy efficient housing should become a national infrastructure priority. During discussions on the 2015-16 budget Scottish Greens pressed for action, resulting in an extra £20million for fuel poverty measures. This was welcome but still way below what is required. 40 per cent of Scottish households are in fuel poverty.
“At the Scottish Greens conference at the weekend we announced our intention to push for 6,500 apprenticeships to support the delivery of this national priority. The Existing Homes Alliance aim that by 2025 all homes are at least an Energy Performance Certificate band ‘C’ is ambitious but necessary if we’re serious about tackling fuel poverty, climate change emissions and preventing ill-health.”
New loans/grants scheme to improve energy efficiency
Scotland’s most vulnerable households will receive help to make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat thanks to a £103 million investment to tackle fuel poverty.
This funding includes a new £14 million loans scheme which will offer homeowners interest-free loans of up to £10,000 for energy efficiency measures.
The Scottish Government will also launch the next phase of its Cashback scheme which will see £10 million made available to homeowners and private tenants, and £5 million for social landlords.
Through the scheme private sector households will be able to claim up to £5,800 for installations recommended by an energy advice report, and households in remote areas will be entitled to greater amounts to cover the increased costs they face. In 2014/15 1,700 social landlord tenants benefitted from the Cashback scheme while it delivered 4,000 energy efficiency measures to 3,400 households in the private sector.
These measures, combined with £65 million for area based fuel poverty schemes and funding for support and advice to householders, takes the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency in 2015/16 to £103 million.
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess announced the investment on a visit to meet residents from Irvine Housing Association.
She said: “It is unacceptable that anyone should experience fuel poverty in Scotland which is why we are investing more than £103 million to tackle this issue head on.
“Our new loan scheme will give homeowners the opportunity to apply for interest-free loans which will make it easier for them to take action and install energy efficiency measures in their properties. The loan can be used alongside the Cashback voucher.
“I’d encourage anyone with fuel poverty concerns to seek free and impartial advice on how they can reduce their energy costs or how to receive support for home insulation, boilers or central heating, by contacting Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.
“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.
“The Scottish Government is determined to tackle the inequalities that exist in our society, and making sure everyone has access to a home where they can be safe and warm, is an essential part of this.”
Funding from the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes Scotland (HEEPS) over the past two years has given Irvine Housing Association the opportunity to install solid wall insulation in residents’ homes.
Nicola Thom, Managing Director of Irvine Housing Association said: “In the last two years we have brought £4 million of external investment funding to our Ayrshire communities. This year we were successful in securing £1.8 million of Scottish Government funding to carry out energy efficiency works to owners’ properties in our communities and we are delighted to show the Minister the transformation.
“Whilst the visual impact transforms the look of the estate, ultimately these works were to improve the energy efficiency of the properties and reduce fuel costs for the residents.
“Each household stands to save an average of £200 per year and our Affordable Warmth Officer will be assisting residents to maximise on the savings and make best use of their new installations.”
Neil Marshall , Chief Executive of the National Insulation Association which represents the insulation industry in Scotland said: “We welcome and congratulate the Scottish Government on this new package of support which will enable thousands of households to receive insulation measures to combat fuel poverty whilst stimulating work for Scottish businesses.
“The Scottish Government is showing leadership and innovation in its approach to tackling fuel poverty and stimulating demand for energy efficiency amongst Scottish householders through the design of the new schemes, targeting hard to treat properties and the new interest free loans.
“What’s more, the fact that it includes another phase of the Cashback also provides much needed support to housing associations and councils in tackling their least efficient housing stock as they strive to work towards the recently announced EESSH standards
An additional £20 million will be invested to cut fuel poverty and improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil confirmed today. And with energy costs tumbling, Mr Neil also urged energy providers to implement price cuts NOW.
£6 million is earmarked for home energy efficiency programmes that will support measures such as solid wall, cavity or loft insulation.
An additional £14 million will be invested in low cost home energy efficiency loans available to households in the private sector to supplement existing grant schemes to help install energy efficiency measures.
This additional funding will take the Scottish Government’s investment to tackle fuel poverty and boost energy efficiency over the three years 2013/14 to 2015/16 to around £300 million.
Details of the loan schemes will be announced in due course.
Mr Neil said: “This Government is determined to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency head on, as this additional £20 million investment for energy efficiency measures demonstrates.
“Fuel costs have risen six times faster than incomes since 2003. In 2013, fuel prices rose by seven per cent, pushing more people into fuel poverty. The fact that this is happening in an energy-rich country is outrageous.
“Given the recent reductions in energy costs, all energy providers must implement price cuts now and not wait until the Spring.
“This additional funding means we have allocated over half a billion pounds since 2009 to make Scotland’s homes more energy efficient”.
“Over 700,000 households have benefited from measures like new boilers or insulation targeted in particular at those in or at risk of fuel poverty.”
Mark Lazarowicz MP has criticised the Westminster government’s failure to make the energy efficiency of new homes a central plank of its Help to Buy scheme in order to boost jobs, cut energy bills and carbon emissions.
THE North & Leith MP was speaking at Treasury Questions in the House of Commons, and said afterwards: “Increasing the energy efficiency of our homes can help cut fuel bills, create new skilled jobs and meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions.
“For instance, surely the Government could have seen that a scheme aimed at first-time buyers should have prioritised energy efficiency so helping young couples with mortgages save money on fuel bills.
“Building all new homes to a high level of energy efficiency helps avoid the need for retrofits later on and Help to Buy could have been used to provide a strong lead by setting a benchmark for the industry.
“It’s an example of where regulation can create new skilled jobs and apprenticeships and boost small businesses but once again the Government has just sat on its hands and failed to act.”
The worst of winter may at last be over, but with sky-high utility bills dropping through the letterbox people across Scotland are being urged to seek assistance to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, helping to reduce household energy bills.
Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess has outlined that households can apply for financial assistance from the Scottish Government of up to £1,200 to pay for energy improvement measures such as cavity and loft insulation, double glazing, a new boiler or draft proofing.
Getting loft insulation can reduce energy bills by up to £175 per year, while replacing single-glazed windows with double glazed ones could save the average home around £165 per year. And taking simple steps to draught proof can cut £55 per year off the average property’s energy bill, while getting a new, energy efficient boiler could save a three bedroom home owner up to £300 annually.
Mrs Burgess said: “It is my belief that everyone in Scotland should live in a warm and safe home that doesn’t cost the earth to heat. In these current economic times, it is more important than ever that people take advantage of money saving opportunities like these when they can.
“Rising energy bills are a huge concern for this government, and fuel poverty is an absolute scandal in a country like Scotland. There is a wide range of financial support and offers available to Scottish households to support them when it comes to making the decision that is right for them.
“As well as perhaps being eligible for up to £400 towards the cost of a new boiler, householders could access up to £500 towards the cost of insulation measures, and up to £300 towards other measures such as double glazing or draft proofing if recommended as part of a Green Deal assessment. I would urge anyone who would like to reduce their energy bills to contact the Hotline as soon as possible to find out about how to get a Green Deal assessment and to find out about the offers available to them.”
You can find out more and apply for a Green Homes Cashback voucher by visiting
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland
or by calling the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland free hotline on 0800 512 012.
NHS Lothian has launched an innovative campaign to encourage staff to save on the energy they use at work. The Power Pack campaign centres on a group of digital characters each promoting a key message to save energy, print less, recycle more and switch-off.
A recent survey showed that 91 per cent of NHS Lothian staff felt they could do more to conserve energy whilst at work. The survey also generated a number of positive suggestions which have been used to help shape the campaign, ranging from double-sided printing and recycling initiatives to rechargeable batteries and car sharing schemes.
Charlie Halpin, Energy and Environment Manager, NHS Lothian, said: “By taking these steps, staff will help NHS Lothian maintain the Carbon Trust Standard and sustaining a reduction in our carbon emissions by four per cent per year over the next five years. Simple tasks like turning off computer monitors overnight or only printing essential documents can make a huge difference. Working together will help us significantly reduce the amount of energy we use and make essential savings for the organisation.”
NHS Lothian spends around £14 million on energy bills and produces 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. That works out at £500 and three tonnes of C02 per member of staff.
Kirsten Smith, Senior Charge Nurse, Ward 72, Royal Victoria Building, said: “I’ll definitely be joining the Power Pack. It’s great that staff have the chance to contribute to this campaign and I’ll be putting my thinking cap on to come up with some energy saving ideas of my own.”
Stuart Wilson, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, NHS Lothian, said: “This is an engaging campaign which we hope will grab the attention of the 24,000 employees who work for NHS Lothian. We are keen for all staff to join the Power Pack giving us their own energy saving advice and ideas. Our staff are key to making this campaign a success and continuing our good work in reducing the energy we use at work.”
Dr Charles Winstanley, Chair, NHS Lothian, said: “We are committed to continuing to drive home the message of energy efficiency and hopefully the Power Pack will help to make the difference. We have already reduced our energy emissions from fossil fuels by 5.3% over the past two years and this led to being awarded the Carbon Trust Standard.”
The Western’s recently-opened Royal Victoria Building has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. The project incorporates a number of initiatives developed to provide an environmentally friendly building: use of photo-voltaic panels, ground source heat pump, low flush WCs, low energy lifts, occupancy and light sensors. The building also achieved a ‘Considerate Contractor’ award – incorporating high level of construction site waste management, and water services are designed to minimise water-borne disease.
