Question reference: S6W-05845
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 21 January 2022
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Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 2 February 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many advisers are available through Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS): Area Based Schemes (ABS) to provide bespoke and targeted advice to individuals living in rural areas.
Answer
The Area Based Schemes funded by the Scottish Government deliver energy efficiency improvements to fuel poor households. This does not include funding for general energy saving or energy efficiency advice, as Home Energy Scotland is available as a free and impartial service for householders across Scotland.
We require ABS projects to comply with all relevant building regulations, retrofit standards and guarantee requirements. In most cases, householders referred or invited to participate in an ABS project will receive separate technical advice about energy efficiency measures that is specific to their property. The recommendation to install an energy efficiency measure will typically be based upon the findings of a physical survey or inspection; recommendations from any relevant Energy Performance Certificate (EPC); and conform with advice on building standards. Councils will invite householders to agree to works on this basis.
To help ensure the benefit from any measures installed through ABS projects, householders will usually receive an information pack about caring for the energy efficiency improvement to their property; along with relevant product guarantees. Councils must set out the quality assurance and complaints process for their ABS projects. Typically the contracted installer and/or the manufacturer of the measure will also provide a helpline service for follow up enquiries.