Argyll and Bute Council has secured home insulation cash.

First Minister Alex Salmond announced the £520,000 grant – part of the £10million Universal Home Insulation Scheme - as he unveiled details of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

The money will be used to improve the energy efficiency of homes in the former Milton and Ardenslate wards of Dunoon, which were identified in a research study as being among the area’s households at the highest risk of fuel poverty.

More than 2,000 households will be offered free energy savings advice as well as free work such as improved insulation measures, if required.

Argyll and Bute Council will deliver the scheme in partnership with the local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre, AliEnergy and SOLAS Scotland, which will be carrying out the works.

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Councillor George Freeman, Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for Housing and Communities, welcomed the news.

“This project will have a major impact on a significant number of people in Dunoon, as well as leading to a reduction in the area’s carbon footprint,” he said.

“People who live in poorly insulated properties tend to be at a much greater risk of fuel poverty than those whose homes are properly insulated. As well as carrying out work on a number of homes, we will also be giving thousands of householders in Dunoon advice around how best to further reduce their domestic energy bills.

“We in Argyll and Bute are committed to reducing energy consumption across the region, and I am delighted that we have secured this money to ensure that some of the properties most in need in the area are tackled first.”

It is estimated that by improving household energy efficiency, Scots could save some £2 billion by 2020 from their energy bills.

The grants announced this week are estimated to lead to families in the affected properties cutting their fuel bills by an average of £50 a year.

(GK)