Inverclyde Council's Safe Sustainable Communities Committee has approved proposals for a scheme to help reduce fuel poverty and household carbon emissions among homeowners.

The Local Energy Savings Scheme (LESS) will give owner-occupiers free advice on how to better insulate their homes and make them more energy efficient.

The scheme will be delivered, on behalf of Inverclyde Council, by SOLAS Insulation Ltd, who will employ a Community Officer to deliver information and advice sessions in the community.

Convener of the Safe, Sustainable Communities Committee, Councillor Robert Moran, said: "This week's approval of the LESS is great news as it will ensure that free information and advice about energy efficiency in the home is now available to homeowners as well as tenants. It also means that free, discounted or fixed price insulation measures will be available to all Inverclyde households. This will lead to warmer homes that use less energy, therefore have lower fuel bills and smaller carbon footprints too - which is a double bonus."

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Insulation and energy efficiency measures will also be provided free, or at a discounted rate depending on household income. SOLAS-registered and trained installers will carry out the installation work.

Funding for physical works will come from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Targets (CERT) scheme, which legally obliges energy companies to contribute £1.5bn over the next three years to home energy efficiency measures for people on low incomes. Additional funding will come from existing programmes such as the Scottish Government's Warm Deal and Central Heating Programmes. Home owners may also contribute to the costs themselves if they do not qualify for free installation.

(GK/JM)