WIREDGOV

Households throughout Scotland are being encouraged to call the Home Energy Scotland Hotline and sign up for free home insulation.

More than a million homes in Scotland do not meet the insulation levels recommended by the Energy Saving Trust to keep their homes warm and their fuel bills down.

The Scottish Government recently announced £12.5 million for the Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS), opening it up to a further 200,000 homes across Scotland who will be offered free help to save on energy bills.

Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, today marked the 30,000th installation under the scheme and urged Scots to take advantage of the initiative, which could save households up to £185 a year.

The Cabinet Secretary was visiting Miss Karein Stewart from Kelvindale in Glasgow, who is currently having cavity wall insulation installed under UHIS, which is free to all eligible households.

Mr Neil said:

"With winter fast approaching, having the correct levels of insulation installed in a home is one of the easiest ways to keep warm and save money on fuel bills, not only this winter but throughout the year.

"Houses lose over half their heat through walls and roofs but by signing up for UHIS free cavity wall and loft insulation, the average household can save £185 a year.

"Phoning the Home Energy Scotland Hotline is a simple step people in Scotland can take towards keeping their homes warmer and energy bills down."

The Scottish Government's Home Energy Scotland Hotline is a one-stop shop for independent energy saving advice to help make homes more energy efficient and cut bills.

Miss Stewart, commented: "We have no insulation in the building and with two children, I struggle financially to keep the house warm for my family especially over the winter. I am delighted to have the insulation in place and I am looking forward to feeling the benefits in my purse as well as around the flat."

Mike Thornton, Director of the Energy Saving Trust who run the Home Energy Scotland hotline, added:

"Having loft or cavity wall insulation installed couldn't be easier. One phone call is all it takes to find out what sort of discount you could be eligible for and most installations take less than an hour, with little to no disruption to the home."

Householders can find out more by contacting the Home Energy Scotland Hotline on 0800 512 012 or on 0300 456 2655 from a mobile.

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