Government offers free insulation

EVERY household in Shetland is to be offered a free energy efficiency survey and free or cheap insulation before the end of the year as part of a Scottish government initiative.

All 10,000 homes on the islands will receive a visit from energy advisers who will offer to assess how energy efficient they are.

Low income households will be offered loft and cavity wall insulation, while the better off will be able to have their homes treated at a discount cost which could be as low as £100, depending on circumstances.

Shetland is one of 19 local authorities across Scotland to benefit from the scheme, which will be offered to around 200,000 households.

A government spokeswoman explained: “Over the next couple of months there will be teams of doorstep energy advisers coming round and knocking on doors and offering free energy efficiency assessments and advise on how they can save energy.

“This will show if they need loft or cavity wall insulation or if they need a top up. If they do, we organise a time and come around and do it.”

People who do not need that kind of help because their buildings are unsuitable, for example they could have been built earlier than the 1920s, will be advised of other assistance packages that are available.