News
Scottish Govt Launches Phase 2 of Universal Home Insulation Scheme
Published 27 September 2011 in Climate Change
On 26 September the Scottish Government launched the second phase of its Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS), which will offer a range of free home insulation measures to approximately 200,000 homes across Scotland. The £12.5 million scheme will be administered by local authorities. On 23 September, the Scottish Government additionally announced the launch of a pilot scheme in Orkney and Fife to incentivise the uptake of solid wall insulation.
The second phase of the UHIS will see Scottish local authorities target homes in areas that have been identified as being most in need of free interventions to improve energy efficiency and combat fuel poverty. The scheme will mainly offer free loft and cavity wall insulation, although some of the schemes will provide support for harder to treat properties.
Commenting on the launch of the scheme, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil, said that the UHIS would "help stamp out fuel poverty", and hit out at energy price rises which he said continued to "undermine the Scottish Government's attempts to lift people out of fuel poverty".
Trisha McAuley, Depute Director of Consumer Focus Scotland, welcomed the new phase of UHIS, and praised the initial phase of the scheme, saying:
"The high take up of insulation measures last year showed how effective the Scheme is, both in terms of tackling fuel poverty, and also of reducing carbon emissions."
Solid Wall Insulation Pilot to Take Place In Orkney and Fife
The Scottish Government on 23 September also announced the launch of a pilot scheme that will take place in Orkney and Fife in late 2011, that will offer interest-free loans for solid wall insulation.
Homeowners in Orkney will be able to access loans of up £15,000 for solid wall insulation, to be paid back over a maximum of 10 years. The Fife pilot will target lower income homeowners in or close to fuel poverty by offering the loans in two areas of the county.
Commenting on the scheme, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said he hoped the pilot would "incentivise the uptake of solid wall insulation."
Information on Universal Home Insulation Scheme.
Relevant Scottish Government press release on UHIS.
Relevant Scottish Government press release on solid wall insulation pilot.