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Home energy efficiency improvements on offer for Highland residents


By Ali Morrison

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Air source heat pumps use electricity to convert cold air to warm, like a refrigerator in reverse.
Air source heat pumps use electricity to convert cold air to warm, like a refrigerator in reverse.

Highland householders are being offered free and subsidised energy saving measures thanks to a deal between E.ON and the local authority.

The energy firm is working with Highland Council to offer eligible residents the opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of their homes by installing energy efficiency measures, regardless of who supplies their energy.

Residents can apply for free cavity wall and loft insulation and Scottish Government grant funding towards the costs of installing external wall insulation to their properties.

Around a third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home escapes through the walls and a quarter through the roof. By insulating cavity walls and loft spaces, residents could reduce the heat loss from their homes and lower their energy costs by around £325 per year, according to E.ON.

People living in properties with solid walls could save around £260 a year by installing external wall insulation.

Some residents could also receive funding towards the cost of installing an air source heat pump on their property, as part of a separate offer with Highland Council and Scottish Government support.

The typical cost of installing an air source heat pump is between £7000 and £11,000. Eligible residents could receive funding up to £7500 towards the costs of installation and finance options are available for the remaining costs. E.ON says that residents taking up the offer could see a potential savings of up to £1315 on their annual fuel bill by replacing electric storage heaters with an air source heat pump.

An air source heat pump uses electricity to extract heat from the outside air, in the same way a refrigerator extracts heat to keep the inside cool. Heat from the air can be extracted even when temperatures are as low as -15°C and can be used to heat both the home and the hot water tank. If the electricity is provided from a renewable supply source, the process is carbon zero.

By installing an air source heat pump in their property residents can benefit from a renewable energy source, which offers reliability throughout the year, the convenience of not having to wait in for fuel refills and knowing that they are reducing the impact on the environment.

Some residents will be able to get help with cavity wall insulation.
Some residents will be able to get help with cavity wall insulation.

Nigel Dewbery, director of E.ON’s Obligation Delivery and Installation Services business, said: “At E.ON we’re committed to supporting the UK’s actions to clean the air by reducing carbon emissions and the impact we all have on the environment.

“We now provide 3.4 million homes across Britain with electricity backed by 100 per cent renewable sources as standard, and our offer to Highland residents further demonstrates our commitment to reducing energy usage across the UK. This is all part of our work to help build a smarter and more sustainable future.”

A spokesman for Highland Council said: “We aim to build on our successful alliance with E.ON to offer households support to improve the energy efficiency of their property and reduce their energy costs and environmental impact.

“Installing cavity wall and loft insulation is an easy and simple way to ensure your home is as energy efficient as possible. External wall insulation offers a number of benefits to the householder including reducing energy bills and improving the aesthetic appearance. Air source heat pumps are an ideal solution for homeowners in the Highlands who are off the gas grid and rely on electric storage heating, oil or LPG.”

For more details about the offers, including eligibility criteria, call E.ON on 0330 400 1020, quoting “EES ABS”.


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