Local Support Team
The Local Support Team programme is an Energy Saving Trust (EST) initiative, developed to provide additional staff resources to assist Local Authorities with their energy efficiency initiatives and to help meet their obligations under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA). The programme was started in Scotland in 2003 to provide assistance to all the Scottish local authorities. Recently emphasis has been placed on widening the programme remit to support other housing providers such as housing associations.
Lochaber Energy Champions
A pilot project is being run in the Lochaber area using people who are active within the community to provide energy efficiency advice to that community. The key objectives are to achieve warmer homes, particularly for vulnerable people and those experiencing fuel poverty, communicating a consistent energy efficiency message within the community, statutory agencies and voluntary organisations. Additional benefits include increasing uptake of energy efficiency measure grants and developing new skills within the community.
Voluntary Action Lochaber, who support the voluntary sector and are based in Fort William, are managing the pilot project and liaise directly with the Energy Champions supporting them in their energy efficiency activities.
Since May this year positive results have been achieved with many people in the community completing Home Energy Checks. Equally important though is the increased awareness of the importance of energy efficiency and how it can save money which is being achieved through the efforts of the Energy Champions such as presentations to groups within the community.
The pilot project is being monitored by the HEEAC and depending upon its success it is hoped to start similar schemes in other areas of the Highlands in the future. For further information on this Project please use the Contact page.
Heating and Renewable Fuels Pilot Scheme
The Highland Council has started a pilot scheme to assess the viability of renewable and sustainable heating and electricity supplies. The driving force behind this scheme is the continuing rise in the cost of heating fuels and electricity and market indicators show that this will be the trend for the foreseeable future.
The objective of the scheme is to install a range of systems using renewable fuel sources including solar water heating, heat pumps, wind turbines and solar electricity panels or photovoltaic cells. The Council will be installing these systems in some of its own housing stock so that they can be monitored and information obtained on their efficiency and running costs. It will also be necessary to monitor housing with traditional heating systems so that comparisons can be made. Tenants have been kept informed on the scheme from the outset and have been asked for their views on the proposals and support by being included in the project.
To date air source heat pumps have been installed in properties in Fort Augustus, Lochend and Balintore and are currently being monitored using sensors placed around the property which can be read through a reader unit located on the outside of the property. Heat pumps work by using the evaporation and condensing of a refrigerant to move heat from one place to another. Air source heat pumps take heat from the outside air and give up the heat to the radiator system inside the property. The next phase involves installing solar water heating panels in properties in Fort Augustus and Aviemore.
Should this pilot study identify successful systems then these are likely to become a choice of heating that is available to tenants in future upgrades. The scheme has additional benefits in raising awareness of renewable technologies not only in Council tenants but also the private sector and providing useful case studies.
For more information on the scheme please contact Eddie Boyd at the Highland Council on (01349) 868568 or e-mail at eddie.boyd@highland.gov.uk.