Scottish government confirms energy efficiency investment

Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil has confirmed that an additional £20 million will be available to address fuel poverty in the UK and improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing.

Of the fund, £6 million is ring fenced for home energy efficiency initiatives to support improvement measures such as solid wall, cavity or loft insulation. The remaining £14 million is to be invested in low cost home energy efficiency loans available to households in the private sector to supply existing grant schemes to help install energy efficiency measures.

This funding takes the Scottish Government’s investment in tackling fuel poverty and increasing energy efficiency for three years to 2015 to £300 million.

Neil said:

“This Government is determined to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency head on, as this additional £20 million investment for energy efficiency measures demonstrates.” “Fuel costs have risen six times faster than incomes since 2003. In 2013, fuel prices rose by seven per cent, pushing more people into fuel poverty. The fact that this is happening in an energy-rich country is outrageous.” “Given the recent reductions in energy costs, all energy providers must implement price cuts now and not wait until the Spring. This additional funding means we have allocated over half a billion pounds since 2009 to make Scotland’s homes more energy efficient.” “Over 700,000 households have benefited from measures like new boilers or insulation targeted in particular at those in or at risk of fuel poverty.”