I recently witnessed how an energy efficiency scheme has helped hundreds of people across Lanarkshire in the last two years.
I visited pensioners John and Elaine Rodger who recently had a new heating system and front door installed through the Warm Works programme and also visited City Technical Services, who install energy-saving measures in homes throughout Lanarkshire.
Mr and Mrs Rodger, of Motherwell, came across the scheme while looking to change their energy supplier online.
The work was done within six weeks and cost them nothing as they are on pension credit.
Mr and Mrs Rodger used to have their heating on all day. Now their new energy-efficient boiler is only on for a couple of hours.
They could not believe they could get this work done without it costing them anything.
Warm Works has been running since 2015 but it is not widely promoted. Even without any great fanfare, they are still fitting up to 500 homes a month across Scotland.
I’d encourage people on pension credits or other benefits and who live in a cold home to check if they qualify.
Measurements taken in the Rodgers’ house show it has moved one EPC rating.
I was very impressed when I met the team from City Technical. They are passionate about what they do and believe more people should benefit from having energy efficiency measures in their homes.
I agree with this and will be interested to see how the Scottish Government plans to deliver when it publishes the Warm Homes Bill.
Sarah Beattie-Smith, Senior Climate and Energy Policy Officer at WWF Scotland and member of the Existing Homes Alliance said: Over 85% of the buildings we see around us today will still be in use in 2050.
That’s why it’s so important that we look after our existing homes and take action to make them more energy efficient. Today, around three-quarters of a million people in Scotland live in fuel poverty and many more are paying for the privilege of heating the air outside their cold, leaky homes.
We need to see stronger and faster action from the Scottish Government to transform Scotland’s homes and make them fit for the 21st century.