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1st December 2009
Aberdeenshire in Top 3 For Energy Grants
North East MSP Alex Johnstone has praised
the work of The Energy Saving Trust which has reported a
1,000 per cent increase in the uptake of home renewables
grants over the past six years under the Energy Saving
Scotland home renewables grant scheme, with Aberdeenshire in
second place with 11.5% of applications, just behind the
Highlands who topped the table with 15.2%.
According to the Trust, householders north
of the border have invested £22m in renewable technologies
over the past six years.
The EST managed scheme is funded by the
Scottish Government and since its launch in 2003, nearly
4,000 grants have been awarded to environmentally active
Scots keen to install renewable energy systems in their
homes.
Grants awarded have rocketed from just 85 in
the period April 2003 to March 2004, to a staggering 971 in
the year 2008-09, a rise of more than 1,000 per cent.
Scotland's favourite renewable technologies
are solar hot water, which make up 43% of all grants
awarded, and heat pumps at 39%.
Welcoming the news, Alex Johnstone said
“With concerns about climate change and the rising costs of
domestic energy, more and more people are taking an interest
in installing renewable energy equipment in their home.”
“The Energy Saving Trust not only provides
grants which take just 15 working days to process, they have
trained advisors who carry out home visits and give guidance
to householders about which of the available technologies
are most suitable for their home.”
“These technologies can save hundreds of
pounds on utility bills every year, and at a time when
everyone's feeling the pinch, they also add value to your
home."
The home renewables grant scheme provides
grants to householders of up to 30% (to a maximum of £4,000)
towards the installation of small-scale renewables systems
in Scottish homes.
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