Extra funding for home renewables scheme 20/4/14
A further £4 million for the Home Renewables Loan Scheme to help householders cut their energy bills has been announced by First Minister Alex Salmond.
The scheme gives individuals access to interest free loans of up to £10,000 for a range of renewable heat and electricity home technologies.
Since April 2011, it has helped reduce dependency on fossil fuels and has allowed householders across Scotland access to cleaner, greener energy.
The First Minister made the announcement while visiting Smith family home on Lewis which is one of 53 homes in the Western Isles which has benefitted from a Home Renewables Loan.
Alex Salmond said: “Scotland is going greener and the wide take up of small scale
renewables appliances in households will be vital for us to become a truly low carbon
economy. There has never been a better time to save energy and go green.
"Since April
2011, more than 1,188 loans have been issued to householders across Scotland and
in particular more than 53 loans across the Western Isles, islanders are clearly
leading the charge in choosing efficient green energy.
"I am delighted to allocate
further funding of £4 million to this successful interest free loans scheme, so that
even more Scots like the Smith family can reap the benefits of low carbon technologies,
cut energy bills and emissions, support jobs and the local economy.”
Mairi Smith from Ballantrushal on Lewis has benefitted from a Home Renewables Loan.
Mrs Smith said: "By installing an air source heat pump in our home, alongside a 5Kw wind turbine, it has enabled us to reduce our utility bills by approximately two thirds. The Energy Saving Scotland Home Renewables Loan Scheme was paramount in us being able to afford the new system in that it is payable over 8 years and is interest free."