Council / SIC given almost £170k for town hall energy efficiency works
SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) is to receive almost £170,000 from the Scottish Government to improve the energy efficiency of Lerwick Town Hall.
The SIC said the funding would cover up to 80 per cent of the project costs, which is currently seeing the building connected to the Lerwick district heating network for the first time.
Existing oil boilers are also set to be removed, and its loft will be insulated to reduce the building’s energy demand.
The Scottish Government is providing £167,873 through its heat decarbonisation fund to the council, which supports projects to retrofit energy efficiency measures to public buildings.
The SIC said the remaining project costs would be me through its existing budgets.
“The bulk of the funding covers the district heating connection, plant room upgrade and controls, as well as additional loft insulation to improve the fabric of the building,” a council spokesperson added.
Shetland News reported earlier this week that extensive works were ongoing outside the sheriff court to connect the A-listed building to the heating network.
A spokesperson for Shetland Islands Council said: “This is the first phase of works to install external pipework, with the existing oil boiler in the building then scheduled to be replaced early in 2026.
“This work is part of a wider programme of works to decarbonise properties in the council’s estate.”
Lerwick’s district heating scheme – which has been up and running for more than 20 years – uses heat generated from burning rubbish, which would otherwise go to landfill, in the town’s energy recovery plant to provide hot water to homes and businesses in the area via pipes.
It is operated by Shetland Heat Energy and Power (SHEAP), which is subsidiary of Shetland Charitable Trust.
Scottish Government energy secretary Gillian Martin said: “Reducing emissions and making our buildings greener is one of the most important steps we can take to tackle climate change, and is a key action in our recently published draft climate change plan.
“The public sector are leading by example, and these projects show the scale of ambition on our journey to net zero.
“By investing in clean heating and energy-saving measures now, we are not only reducing emissions but also lowering energy costs for years to come.”
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