Households will be
able to apply for up to £7,300 through a new, more generous, phase of the
Scottish Government’s Green Homes Cashback scheme.
The £15
million scheme will provide funding to households towards the cost of
installing energy efficiency measures such as home insulation and boiler
upgrades that have been recommended on a Green Deal Assessment
Report.
From June and
operating in 2014/15, funding will be available for individual householders,
with private landlords and private and social tenants all eligible to apply.
Social landlords will also be eligible to apply for funding.
Announcing the
additional funding, Minister for Energy Fergus Ewing said:
“Scotland is
outperforming the UK in the delivery of home energy efficiency measures that is
saving households money. This new and more intensive phase of Green Homes
Cashback will make a real difference to people across the country, saving money
on fuel bills and helping to cut emissions.
“Rising
energy prices remain a huge concern for this government, and we will spend
almost a quarter of a billion pounds over a three year period on fuel poverty
and energy efficiency including our Home Energy Efficiency Programme for
Scotland which will spend £79 million in 2014/15 to support energy
efficiency improvements in Scotland’s homes.
“This
government is leading investment on energy efficiency for low income
households, with figures from Energy Action Scotland showing that on average,
£3.52 is invested in England, compared with £36.48 in Scotland,
£31.31 in Wales and £27.55 in Northern Ireland.
“This new
phase of Green Homes Cashback underlines our ongoing commitment to energy
efficiency – we are doing all we can under existing arrangements to
provide practical support to households. What’s clear however is that we
need the full powers of independence to avoid the delays and dallying
we’ve seen from the UK Government.
“In the five
months since the UK Government announced their energy efficiency package, we
had repeatedly sought urgent clarity on the consequentials from this funding
for Scotland, but it took them until this week to confirm the
position.
“This lack
of communication by UK Government Ministers shows a blatant disregard for
Scottish households and Scottish businesses. What’s more with the changes
to the Energy Company Obligation that Westminster announced in December this
has reduced investment by energy companies in Scotland by around £50
million a year and undermined the much needed investment in energy efficiency
to tackle fuel poverty and climate change.
“We are
strongly committed to addressing fuel poverty and climate change and with the
full powers of independence we could go even further to help thousands of
households in Scotland to have warmer, more energy efficient
homes.”
The announcement
was welcomed by the head of the National Insulation Association (NIA) Neil
Marshall, who said:
“The NIA
welcomes the new £15 million scheme being introduced by the Scottish
Government today and its continued commitment to supporting insulation
companies in Scotland and to helping households to address the cost of living
by installing more insulation measures which will deliver long terms
sustainable savings on energy bills.
“We look
forward to continuing to work effectively with the Scottish Government on this
and other energy efficiency and fuel poverty initiatives.”
Notes To
Editors
Under the new
phase of Green Homes Cashback householders can apply for:
1. 75% of the cost
of Solid Wall Insulation up to a maximum of £6000, and;
2. Up to
£1200 for a range of other recommended energy efficiency measures, from
within three categories:
- Up to
£400 - insulation, including loft (not including Solid
Wall Insulation)
- Up to
£500 – condensing boilers, including heating controls
- Up to
£300 – other measures from a specified list
3. Up to
£100 refunded for their Green Deal Assessment Report if at least one
recommended measure is installed.
The scheme opens
in early June. Application information and full terms and conditions will be
available at that time on Home Energy Scotland’s website.
We intend to open
a new phase of the scheme for social landlords (local authorities and
Registered Social Landlords). Details will be announced in due
course.