Boom-time for home insulation in the Highlands
Issued by: The Energy Saving Trust
5,763 homes in Raigmore and Hilton areas of Inverness and Fort William to get insulation through the Home Insulation Scheme
There will be a boom in the number of homes in the Highlands to be offered free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation as the Home Insulation Scheme is now made available to people living in the Raigmore and Hilton areas of Inverness and Fort William.
The Home Insulation Scheme is Scottish Government funded, endorsed by Highland Council, and delivered by the Energy Saving Trust. It offers householders a free home energy audit, advice on making their homes more energy efficient, and loft and cavity wall insulation at specially negotiated rates or even free of charge to certain eligible households.
The first phase of the scheme offered thousands of householders across Thurso and Fort William the chance to stop wasting energy in their homes, reduce their fuel bills and save money.
Now the scheme has been expanded, and 5,763 more homes in the Raigmore and Hilton areas of Inverness and Fort William will receive a visit from a Home Energy Assessor.
This will mean a total of 14,738 homes in the Highlands will be visited by energy assessors during the first year of the Scottish Government’s ground-breaking Home Insulation Scheme.
The insulation measures offered will cut energy bills by £61 a year and by £2,445 over the 40 year lifetime of the insulation.
Research shows that a third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home is through the walls. Typically, a quarter of the heat in an uninsulated home is lost through the roof. Top-ups will be offered free to everyone who already has loft insulation that is not up to the recognised standard.
Mike Thornton, Director, Scotland, for the Energy Saving Trust, said: “The first phase of the Home Insulation Scheme helped 1,034 people in the Highlands enjoy a warmer home during an extremely harsh winter.
“Now we are in the second quarter of the year, many householders are receiving their first fuel bills of the year and are seeing the impact that insulation installed through the scheme has had on their energy bills.
“A home energy audit by one of our Home Energy Assessors takes around 20 minutes. I would urge everyone in Raigmore, Hilton and Fort William who receives a visit to take advantage of it. It is time well spent.”
Householders in the Highlands can take action in advance of the Home Energy Assessor calling at their door, by telephoning 0800 512 012 to make an appointment for an energy assessor to visit their home or to undertake an assessment over the phone.
Alternatively, they can visit www.homeinsulationscheme.co.uk to fill out a Home Energy Check form online.
Welcoming the expansion of the Home Insulation Scheme in the Highlands, Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee, said: “People in Thurso and Fort William have already had the chance to apply for the Home Insulation Scheme in its first phase and we welcome the wider opportunity for householders in the Inverness Raigmore and Hilton areas and rural Fort William to investigate the options now open to them.”
The installations in the Highlands are being carried out by Miller Pattison.
June Casson, Home Insulation Scheme Administrator, Miller Pattison, said: “I am not surprised that the Home Insulation Scheme is being expanded in these areas as the take up by the public has been phenomenal. Customers are now telling their neighbours about the benefits and the neighbours are extremely keen to join such a beneficial scheme.”
Christine Houston received a top-up to her loft insulation through the first phase of the Home Insulation Scheme.
She said: “I think the Home Insulation Scheme is a great idea. We already had cavity wall insulation and our loft was partially floored, but the Home Energy Audit still identified areas where we could benefit.
“The Home Energy Assessor was pleasant and knowledgeable. My husband has experience in the construction industry and they both spent some time talking about how to keep buildings warm and energy efficient.”
Christine was entitled to a top-up to their loft insulation and was pleased at the work that was carried out by the installation team.
She said: “The team were polite and efficient and managed to carry out the work in around an hour – which meant that we were able to get on with the rest of our day.”