News / SIC to receive £1m to make homes more energy efficient
SHETLAND Islands Council is set to receive over £1 million this year to make homes more energy efficient.
The money is part of the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland scheme.
The council’s carbon management team leader Mary Lisk said the total amount of funding for 2018/19, which is £1,030,719, is broadly similar to the money the council received the previous year.
The scheme, which is paying out £49 million this year nationally, focuses on retrofitting work like insulation in private homes in council bands A-D and its formula is calculated on levels of fuel poverty.
Over half of households in Shetland are in fuel poverty, meaning they spend more than 10 per cent of their income to maintain normal heating.
Scottish housing minister Kevin Stewart admitted that there are “still far too many people struggling with unaffordable energy costs”.
“This latest round of funding is part of a package of measures to make homes across Scotland more energy efficient,” he said.
“We have recently consulted on a new fuel poverty strategy, including a new definition and target, that will inform our fuel poverty bill which will be laid before parliament this summer.”
For more information on the scheme, contact the council’s carbon management team on 01595 744 179 or e-mail carbonmanagement@shetland.gov.uk.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.