Orkney Islands Council has secured a £1 million fund to help improve energy efficiency in housing across the region.

Having been awarded funding from the Scottish Government under the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Scheme (HEEPS: ABS), householders are now being urged to check if they are eligible to secure funding for loft insulation, internal wall insulation, and external wall insulation works.

All households in Council Tax bands A to D that have an Energy Performance Certificate of E, F or G are eligible for support through HEEPS: ABS. Some households in Council Tax bands E to H will also be eligible depending on their income levels.

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Overall, up to £9,000 in HEEPS: ABS funding is available per-household to support the installation of insulation measures. In addition, the council also has access to additional funding via the Warm Homes Fund, Warmzones CIC and Energy Company Obligation schemes. These initiatives support a variety of measures - from insulation, some heating upgrades and first time central heating installations.

Luke Fraser, the council's Team Leader in Policy and Planning for Housing services, said: "This is the fourth year of delivery for the HEEPS: ABS in Orkney and already over 300 properties have been upgraded with additional insulation measures as a result.

"While in summer, cold homes can seem a distant memory, we are reminding people that funding continues to be available, and urging them to take the first steps to see if they could benefit, before this winter arrives."

(LM/MH)