Caithness Landward Homes To Be Offered Free Energy Savings Measures

3rd October 2013

Council and E.ON work together to improve Highland homes.

Home owners in four Highland Council Wards are the first to be offered free energy saving measures in a £6.4 million project with energy company E.ON.

People who own homes in the Landward Caithness; Aird and Loch Ness; Inverness Central and Upper Achintore (Fort William) Wards will be invited to have their properties assessed for free energy efficiency measures as part of the Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland – Area Based Scheme (HEEPS-ABS).

The scheme is mainly aimed at insulating hard-to-treat properties with primary measures being: cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation.

The Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland – Area Based Scheme is being administered and managed for the Scottish Government by The Highland Council in an arrangement with E.ON.

Councillor Dave Fallows, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Finance, Housing and Resources Committee, welcomed the new energy efficiency scheme in the Highlands. He said: “This partnership between Highland Council and E.ON is the only home energy efficiency scheme in the Highlands that is endorsed by the Council. It is a fantastic opportunity for homeowners in the first four wards that E.ON will be targeting.”

Councillor David Alston, Vice Chair of the Council’s Finance, Housing and Resources Committee, welcomed the £1.8 million funds to Highland Council from the Scottish Government to administer HEEPS-ABS. He said: “I am delighted that The Highland Council is in the top quarter of Scottish local authorities receiving Scottish Government funds. Our success in attracting this funding is due to our previous good track record of administering government energy schemes.”

Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry added: “This new three-year programme will help to reduce the carbon footprint of the Highlands and the Council is proud to lend its support which is being boosted by £4.6 million from E.ON as part of the Energy Company Obligation.

“The HEEP-ABS programme is in alignment with Highland Council’s recent long term commitment of achieving a Carbon Neutral Inverness in a Low Carbon Highlands by 2025; Carbon CLEVER Highlands.”

Nigel Dewbery, Head of Obligation Delivery at E.ON added: “Over the past three years we have installed wide-ranging energy efficiency measures to more than 1.3 million homes across the UK, we have also given an opportunity to some of the more vulnerable families in society to manage their energy costs for the long term. I’m delighted we are able to continue bringing these benefits to homes and families by working alongside The Highland Council, as well as providing local employment opportunities during the delivery of this project.”

Following a tender process, E.ON was chosen by The Highland Council to administer HEEP-ABS in the three year Highland-wide scheme. Over the coming months homeowners in the first four council wards of Landward Caithness; Aird and Loch Ness; Inverness Central and Upper Achintore (Lochaber) will be invited to have home energy assessments carried out by E.ON. Measures available will be dependent upon survey results and those that qualify for and agree to works being carried out in their homes will need to formally commit to the work being carried out by March 2014 and all installations will be completed by September 2014.

In additions to private home owners, the HEEP-ABS programme also welcomes applications from Registered Social Landlords; Housing Associations; and community groups that can match HEEP-ABS funding with community benefit funds to undertake collective community home energy efficiency or carbon reduction projects.

E.ON will be in contact with residents in the four chosen areas directly, as they progress through the Wards identified.

For further information please contact: Home Energy Scotland on tel: 0808 808 2282.