SIC secures funding to reduce heating bills

SHETLAND Islands Council has netted almost £400,000 of government money to help making a number of its properties, connected to the Lerwick district heating network, more energy efficient.

Benefitting from the measures will be larger users such as the Lerwick based care homes, the Islesburgh complex as well as the old library.

The measures are aimed to reduce the council’s heating bill but also to free up capacity on the district heating system to allow new users to be connected.

Part of the project will also be to trial solar photovoltaic (PV) panels as a supplement to district heating in a care home to reduce its heavy demand on the network.

In addition, around 30 privately owned homes already connected to the district heating system will also be offered better insulation and adequate controls.

The funding of £383,861 comes from the newly created Scottish Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP), which supports innovative approaches aimed at driving down energy bills.

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Chairman of the council’s environment and transport committee, Michael Stout, said the SIC was committed to reducing fuel poverty in homes throughout the isles.

“We are also determined to make our own council assets as energy efficient as possible,” he said.

“By doing this, we will deliver reductions in our carbon emissions and help tackle climate change – a major priority area for national and local government.

“This new fund asks us to be innovative in how we operate. By successfully delivering these works we will be more likely to receive further funding from SEEP in years to come, and hopefully help reduce the high level of fuel poverty which exists in Shetland.”