As the cold snap continues to bite, residents of Highland Perthshire have been given the chance to get their homes insulated for free.
The Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) allocated £590,000 of Scottish Government funding to cover 6000 homes in Aberfeldy, Blair Atholl, Dunkeld, Kenmore, Kinloch Rannoch and Pitlochry.
Through the council-run project homeowners and those renting in the private sector can apply to have lofts and cavity walls made “energy efficient” without paying a penny.
Local authority tenants, or those living in a property owned by a housing association, can also be helped.
A number of recent surveys undertaken by Perth and Kinross Council highlighted that incidences of fuel poverty are notably higher in Highland Perthshire.
In rural, isolated areas heating options are also much more limited.
All residents in the area will be sent a letter outlining the criteria for the scheme, to be followed up by a home visit from a Save Cash And Reduce Fuel (SCARF) energy adviser.
The charity’s assessors are qualified to provide free, impartial advice and give information on all aspects of energy efficiency. They can identify how homes could be made more energy efficient and will also advise if they would benefit from loft and/or cavity wall insulation.
The council is also working with contractor EAGA Ltd to the deliver the programme.
UHIS is a part of the government’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which aims to reduce Scotland’s energy use by 12% by 2020.
Any residents who think they are eligible can apply for free insulation. The scheme will end on March 31.’Vital’Housing and health convener Peter Barrett hopes that UHIS will help people who are struggling this winter, as well as improving the region’s green credentials.
He said, “We are very proud to announce the start of this programme.
“We are committed to helping our residents tackle fuel poverty and assisting those who are experiencing hardship through excessive energy costs.”
He added, “Living in a warm home is vital for the health and wellbeing of everyone and is a basic human requirement.
“We are eager to help anyone who needs our assistance. In many rural areas heating options are limited and this project can make a real difference to the lives of many people in Highland Perthshire.
“Not only that, it will also contribute to the reduction of the area’s carbon footprint.”
Mr Barrett said, “I would encourage everyone who gets the letter to think about whether they could benefit from this project. I would also urge anyone experiencing difficulties keeping their home warm to contact the council for help.
“We can assist and advocate on their behalf and negotiate with their energy supplier in order to improve their situation. For example, we can seek advice on the most affordable tariffs for customers.”
He added, “We can also provide customers with advice on energy efficiency as a way of preventing future arrears or hardship.
“In cases where older people have no heating systems or systems that are old or in a state of disrepair, council staff can assist them in applying for free central heating. For those aged over 60 we will also ensure that an application has been made for the winter fuel payment.”
The council can be contacted on 01738 475000 and SCARF’s energy advisers are available on 01224 213005.