Thousands of warm homes for Scots this winter

Thousands of householders in Scotland are set to have a warm winter with the help of the Scottish Government’s home energy helpline. Around 3,375 households have been referred for insulation […]

Thousands of householders in Scotland are set to have a warm winter with the help of the Scottish Government’s home energy helpline.

Around 3,375 households have been referred for insulation and heating packages through the Home Energy Scotland hotline – which offers free energy advice and support – since the launch of the campaign at the end of September.

More than 6,000 tenants and private sector landlords have also been awarded vouchers under the Green Homes Cashback Scheme, which gives boiler, glazing and heating control discounts.

The Scottish Government has a budget of £74 million this year to help householders cut their fuel bills, increase energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty in 2013/14.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “It’s reassuring to see that our Home Energy Scotland hotline is making a real difference to householders around the country with thousands of households now taking up our home energy and green homes initiatives.

“We are doing everything we can within our limited powers to provide a wide range of energy efficiency measures to individual households and to local authorities. But we need the full powers of independence to fully tackle all the causes of fuel poverty.”

Last week Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing also said Scotland’s oil and gas industry will “prosper and thrive with fiscal and regulatory stability” if the nation is independent.

Latest Podcast