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Free renewable energy from the ground

Catherine Deshayes

Renewable energy specialist Ecoliving has been awarded funding in order to provide ground source heat pumps, which can help the average Scottish household save 60 to 75 per cent of heating energy used each year.

The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) funding comes from Scottish and Southern Energy, and is designed to help eradicate fuel poverty and help older people, benefit from lower energy bills.

The ground source heat pumps can save households up to £700 a year in fuel costs, aswell as reducing the carbon footprint of homes.

The vast majority of Ecoliving's funding is to be used to support the social housing sector to keep their homes warm this winter.

This year's finding comes in the wake of last year's success, when ground and air source heat pumps were installed in over 50 homes in clusters across Scotland, helping to reduce carbon footprints and fuel poverty.

Gordon Miller, Editor of eco homes site www.whatgreenhome.com, told TheMoveChannel.com, "Ground (and air) source heat pumps are undeniably a renewable form of energy whose adoption will not only reduce residents' fuel bills but will also save on the amount of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere.

"That has to be a win win scenario. My only reservation is that the CERT funding is too little too late, especially for those most at risk of fuel poverty this coming winter because of the iniquitous energy price rises over the past few months," added Mr Miller.

Mark Henderson, Managing Director of Ecoliving, said, "There is growing demand for renewable heating systems and this funding will allow us to support Housing Associations in their fight against fuel poverty with large numbers of individuals finding it increasingly difficult to keep their homes warm.

"We have been actively involved in the social housing sector for the last four years, promoting the adoption of heat pumps in the battle against fuel poverty and carbon reduction.

"We are delighted to be able to bring CERT funding through Scottish and Southern Energy to existing and new Registered Social Landlord (RSL) partners.

"This is a significant boost to the adoption of tried and tested heat pump technology in social housing and will help to lift many households across Scotland out of fuel poverty," Mr Henderson added.

Contacts: Ecoliving, www.ecolivinguk.com/

What Green Home, www.whatgreenhome.com