Heating and energy efficiency funding

Orkney Islands Council is reminding residents of funding that could help cut fuel bills and keep homes warm.

The council has been successful in securing almost £3 million in funding to help people across the county improve the energy efficiency of their homes through the installation of insulation and new heating systems.

This includes Warm Homes Fund funding worth £1.5 million from the National Grid — with OIC one of only four organisations in Scotland to win funding of this kind.

It can be used to provide central heating in homes that currently do not have a full central heating system or have old storage heating.

Both oil boilers and air-to-water heat pumps can be installed in eligible home owner and private rented sector properties.

The council was also awarded £1.4 million for 2017-2018 from the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS: ABS) and over 140 households have been signed up to the 2017/18 programme which sees insulation measures, loft insulation, under floor insulation, internal wall insulation, and external wall insulation, installed in properties in the private sector.

There is expected to be a further £1 million in HEEPS: ABS funding available over 2018/19 for further insulation measures, which will be able to help over 100 additional households.

If you are interested in finding out more — including whether you might be eligible — you should get in touch with the council’s appointed contractor, Firefly Energi (Orkney) Ltd.

You can contact Firefly Energi (Orkney) Ltd on 881151, by email to info@fireflyenergi.co.uk or by calling past their office at 31 Broad Street, Kirkwall (Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm).

Firefly’s staff will discuss the measures you are interested in and your potential eligibility.

A property survey will be required, as well as information on income and expenditure on heating etc.

CALL US NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION Tel: 881151

Keep a look out for our monthly case studies on how Firefly Energi is reducing people’s heating bills across the county.