East Kilbride’s MSP has welcomed news that 426 heat pumps have been installed in homes across South Lanarkshire this year.
Collette Stevenson said Scotland is “leading the way” as the country works towards achieving its net zero goals while bringing down energy costs.
Scotland remains on course to deliver a record number of heat pumps in 2024.
According to latest data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) the Scottish Government has delivered 3573 in total across South Lanarkshire since 2007 and is providing support to those looking to install them via the Home Energy Scotland grant and loan worth £7,500, or £9,000 for those in rural areas.
The Scottish Government also has fuel poverty programmes for low-income households like Warmer Homes Scotland and Area Based Schemes. When compared with other nations of the UK, Scotland is leading the way with 1.68 per cent of households with heat pump installations compared to 0.81 per cent in England.
Ms Stevenson said: “Once again Scotland is leading the way, working towards achieving our net zero goals while bringing down energy costs. There is, as always more that we can do. Encouraging uptake is key.
“We are tackling fuel poverty at a time when energy bills are rising, and insulating our homes and installing heat pumps is a good way to not only reduce energy costs, but to do our bit for the environment too.
“Home Energy Scotland can provide the right advice, guiding constituents through what grants and loans are available. I strongly recommend constituents get in touch with them to discuss what assistance can be provided – be it insulation or heat pumps.”
The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme provides homeowners in Scotland a grant, interest free loan or a combination of both to install clean heating systems and energy efficiency measures.
For clean heating systems such as heat pumps, grant funding of up to £7,500 is available, with an additional £7,500 of funding available as an optional interest free loan.
For energy efficiency measures such as insulation, grant funding is available up to 75 per cent of the combined cost of measures up to a maximum grant amount of £7,500. The remainder of funding requested can be taken up as an optional interest-free loan up to the maximum funding limit per improvement.
You can currently apply for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme if the property is an existing property located in Scotland and you are the homeowner – you own the home you live in and it is your only or primary private residence.
Youdo not need to be in receipt of benefits to qualify for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme.
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