Orkney is to benefit from Scottish Government funding  to help make homes more energy efficient.

15 councils will receive in total over £2million. Orkney is to take part in a pilot project utilising the  Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES).  This will help the islands to identify local opportunities for energy efficiency improvements and heat decarbonisation.

The Energy Efficiency Scheme is now open for new applications.

Householders who are interested in energy efficiency can follow this link. Home Energy Scotland

Businesses can follow this link. Resource Efficient Scotland

Paul Wheelhouse,Energy Minister in the Scottish Government,  said:

“The 15 projects we are supporting – from Shetland to the Borders – will have a really positive impact for the people of Scotland by helping provide warmer homes, more competitive businesses and improving health outcomes, while boosting local economies and delivering on our wider programme, which will see around £146 million of Scottish Government funding invested in the current year and £500 million spent over this term of the Scottish Parliament.

“Energy Efficient Scotland will make a lasting difference to reducing the level of fuel poverty and to tackling climate change in Scotland.

“There will be challenges and opportunities in transforming Scotland’s homes and buildings to be warmer, greener and more energy efficient, and so we are testing various approaches to drive further action on energy efficiency during the programme’s transition phase.

“ I am also very pleased to announce that we are today launching a further call for applications for the Energy Efficient Scotland Transition Programme as we look to continue to support these vital projects.”