Energy efficiency scheme to be rolled out

The OIC has appointed an Orkney firm to roll out a scheme to improve energy effiency in households in the county.

Firefly Energi Ltd has been awarded the contract to run what is known as the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS: ABS) in Orkney over the next two years.

Under the scheme, householders will be able to apply for grant funding towards the cost of installing various insulation measures and heating upgrades.

According to the OIC, a mailing to households will start in April, explaining and opening the registration process for HEEPS: ABS.

In the meantime, the council and Firefly Energi Ltd are under way with a pilot project of 400 participating households.

These householders recently received home packs from Home Energy Scotland and will now receive a letter from the council to confirm the next steps in the pilot process.

In addition, householders who possess a completed ‘Green Deal Advice Report’ are invited to contact Firefly Energi Ltd to discuss the recommended measures noted and to determine if these can be supported by HEEPS: ABS.

According to the council, the contract, announced on Friday, is aimed at utilising the £1.343m set aside by the Scottish Government for Orkney for the 2014-15 financial year, for home energy efficiency works in the county under Government’s ongoing HEEPS:ABS scheme.

It added: “A significant challenge in previous attempts to get the HEEPS: ABS programme under way locally was the requirement for installers to have an accreditation called ‘PAS 2030’.  The council’s newly appointed managing agent, Firefly Energi, gained this in October 2014.”