Published: Thursday, 17th July, 2008 07:30
Fifers willing to go green to cut fuel bills
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FIFE residents would install more renewable technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels on their homes if they knew it would lead to lower fuel bills, research by one of the country’s leading environmental organisations has revealed.
The Energy Saving Trust in Scotland has carried out the research as part of its ongoing drive to encourage more Scots to apply for grants to help meet the cost of installing renewables like solar panels and ground source heat pumps (GSHP).
According to the survey of 1056 Scots, 50 per cent of Fife residents said they would install a renewable technology if they knew it would lead to paying less for gas and electricity. This compared to a national average across Scotland of 65 per cent.
The findings also showed that 41 per cent of people living in Fife are put off from installing solar, wind, air and ground source power because they think it is too expensive.
Moreover, 69 per cent of Fife householders said they would like “financial incentives” before installing a solar power heating system, biomass boiler or ground source heat pump (GSHP), against a national average of 61 per cent.
Through the household grant stream of the Scottish Community and Householder Renewable Initiative (SCHRI) - which is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust - householders can apply for a grant which covers 30 per cent of the total cost of installing a renewable technology, up to a maximum of £4000.
Earlier this year, the Scottish Government increased the amount of money available to householders through the scheme by 40 per cent. In the last financial year (2007-2008), the amount allocated to SCHRI household grants was £2.5 million compared to this year’s figure of £3.5 million.
The Energy Saving Trust’s director in Scotland, Mike Thornton, said that while he understood the public’s concern about the up-front cost required to install a renewable technology, he urged them to think about the long-term benefits.
He said, “I understand why people living in Fife might think that installing a renewable system such as a solar power water system or a biomass boiler is too expensive for them, but the reality is that they are better value than ever.
“Once installed, these technologies can save hundreds of pounds on utility bills every year - at a time when energy costs are rising steeply - and they also add value to your home.
“Getting a grant is easier than you would think: we work very closely with applicants and it only takes 15 working days from grant application to grant award. And with the Scottish Government increasing funding for the scheme, now is a great time to apply.”
Mr Thornton added, “Our research has found that people want financial incentives to install these sorts of technologies and that is exactly what SCHRI provides. Scottish householders have a vital role to play in lowering the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions and we are delighted that so many Scots continue to apply for SCHRI grants and install renewable technologies on their homes.”
The average costs of installing a renewable technology are £4000 for solar water heating; £9000 for air source heat pumps; £10,000 for biomass boilers and £13,000 for ground source heat pumps. Additional renewable technologies attracting grant include small scale wind turbines, photovoltaic panels and micro hydro-electric.
Since SCHRI started in 2003, close to 2700 grants have been awarded to Scottish householders, who have invested more than £18.8 million in renewable technologies over the past four years, with this figure rising every month.
A typical solar water heating system can meet around a third of a household’s annual hot water needs. And a ground source heat pump installed in a property previously heated by electricity could save as much as £960 on fuel bills and 7.5 tonnes of CO2 per year.
To find out more about SCHRI household grants log on to: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/homerenewables or call 0800 138 8858.
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