Scottish Government praises £1bn home energy savings

The Scottish Government has indicated that home energy programmes are set to save its householders more than £1 billion on their energy bills under its four home energy programmes initiative since 2009.

More than 800,000 households have been offered energy advice or assistance under the scheme.

Initiatives include the boiler scrappage scheme, which recently exceeded the 30,000 boiler replacement according to the Scottish Government, as well as the energy assistance package, universal home insulation scheme and home insulation scheme.

Activity for 2012 to 2013 is expected to save a further million tonnes of C02 over the lifetime of the energy measures put in place, which is around 15 years for a new heating system and 40 years for new insulation.

This is reinforced by a record £79 million this year for the new home energy efficiency programmes for Scotland, which are targeted at households at risk of fuel poverty.

Housing minister Margaret Burgess, said: “Meeting householders who have benefitted from the Scottish Government’s home energy programmes puts into context how much they are saving through these measures and how vital these savings are.

“It is my belief that everyone in Scotland should live in a warm and safe home that doesn’t cost the earth to heat. In these current economic times, it is more important than ever that people take advantage of money saving opportunities.”

Mike Thornton, director of Energy Saving Trust Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have supported the Scottish Government in helping more than 30,000 home owners in Scotland install a more efficient boiler and reduce their heating bills.

“Although this particular programme has reached its end, grant support for energy efficiency and heating improvements continues to be available under the green homes cashback scheme as part of the Scottish Government’s wider home energy Scotland support.”