An energy efficiency scheme has been completed at a housing complex in Clackmannanshire.

The project has been delivered by the local authority and Scottish Hydro – part of the SSE group.

The Cochrane Foundation, which is a charitable organisation providing quality affordable housing to elderly residents of Alva, received 24 new boilers to help reduce household energy use and heating bills.

Under the scheme, tenants living in privately rented accommodation, and in receipt of certain benefits, can apply for free energy efficiency measures such as new boilers or cavity wall insulation.

Clackmannanshire Council Housing Convener Les Sharp said: "The installation of 24 new boilers for the elderly residents at the Cochrane Foundation is the latest addition to the energy efficiency drive we announced last year which sees the Council working with Scottish Hydro to help homes in Clackmannanshire become more energy efficient.

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"A new boiler can make a difference to heating your home and I'm pleased we've been able to help the residents of The Cochranes benefit from this initiative. I urge more residents of Clackmannanshire to find out how they too can benefit under this scheme."

David Smith, Area Development Manager at Scottish Hydro, added: "The majority of the cottages at The Cochrane Foundation had boilers which were around 12 years old and weren't performing as efficiently as they could be. Therefore we are delighted to provide new boilers that will be more reliable, more efficient and should help reduce the fuel bills for residents in the long term."

Murray Cochrane, Director of the Cochrane Foundation, commented: "The Cochrane Foundation was set up as a Charity in 1935 providing support for the people of Alva and since 1955 has also provided accommodation for the elderly residents of Alva so it's great to be able to improve our accommodation through this energy efficiency project.

"Residents have said that they can feel the difference already compared to the old boilers so it's already proving a popular initiative with some immediate results."

The project is part of a joint drive by the council and Scottish Hydro to make homes in Clackmannanshire more energy efficient. Funding has been provided through the Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland (HEEPS) and Scottish Hydro's Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

(JP/IT)