Hundreds of residents could receive help to make their home more energy efficient thanks to a successful funding bid by Argyll and Bute Council.

The £600K project, funded by the Scottish Government, under its Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland (HEEPS) and Scottish Hydro, through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), aims to help cut household energy use and reduce energy costs.

Homeowners or tenants living in privately rented accommodation and who are in receipt of certain benefits may be eligible for free energy efficiency measures which include new boilers and loft and cavity wall insulation.

It is estimated that the funding could help over 300 homes in Argyll and Bute which are in need of insulation or new heating systems.

Policy Lead for Strategic Housing, Councillor Robin Currie, said, ‘’ Argyll and Bute Council welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with SSE to tackle fuel poverty. Figures in the update of the local housing strategy show that extreme fuel poverty in  Argyll and Bute is increasing and any initiative which helps to tackle this problem is warmly welcomed’’

David Smith, Area Development Manager at Scottish Hydro added: “We are delighted to launch this new initiative and bring the benefits of free insulation and heating measures to homes in Argyll and Bute.

“Many people are not aware that these schemes are available so it’s vital that we get the message out loud and clear. Elderly homeowners and families on low incomes are amongst the groups that could receive these free energy efficiency measures which could help reduce both household energy use and heating bills. I urge everyone to check the eligibility criteria as their home may benefit from this scheme.”

According to the Energy Saving Trust, cavity wall insulation could help cut energy bills by up to £140 a year and loft insulation up to £175 a year.  It also adds up to ensure boilers are as efficient as possible as it accounts for around 60% of the annual cost of an energy bill. Some boilers can bring savings of up to £300 a year.*

To find out more about the scheme and check eligibility criteria visit www.hydro.co.uk/winterhhcro or call 0800 980 7537.