Tenants in nine Edinburgh homes are now benefiting from major energy upgrades designed to improve living standards and reduce energy bills. The homes, located in the south-east of the city, have achieved an Energy Performance Certificate 'B' rating following improvements including external wall insulation (EWI) and window upgrades.

The properties are part of a pilot project and are now being monitored to assess energy consumption, tenant comfort, and overall performance. The data collected will inform the feasibility of similar upgrades across other council housing stock.

"I warmly welcome what's been achieved in collaboration with our partners, AtkinsRéalis and Anderson Bell + Christie, on this transformative retrofit project," said Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener. "The energy improvements are already delivering real benefits for tenants – lower energy bills, increased comfort, and more sustainable homes. The data we're collecting will be instrumental in scaling up this work to happen across other Council homes in Edinburgh, contributing towards our Net Zero 2030 target. While the work involved is complex, the long-term benefits – for our tenants, communities, and our city's environment – are undeniable."

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Jonathan McQuillan, Director at Anderson Bell + Christie, commented: "This project signals a real shift change in how Scottish social housing landlords are approaching their obligations to improve the energy and quality of homes ahead of the Scottish Government deadline...The City of Edinburgh Council have been pioneering in their thinking and as a result of the pilot, on which we spent two years investigating and garnering the right data, the majority of their stock can now be retrofitted with confidence. The improvement works support future measures such as district heating systems, making them 'net zero-ready'."

The project used a "whole house approach" to implement advanced retrofit standards. The nine pilot homes were selected after a detailed review of 52 building types, which included surveys, asbestos checks, air-tightness testing, and energy modelling.