Commitments to new climate change and energy efficiency measures have been welcomed by campaigners.WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “Commitments to new climate change and warm homes legislation will provide opportunities to bring forward new policies that will put us on track for securing the full benefits of a zero-carbon future.”Money for energy efficiency in the First Minister’s post-EU referendum stimulus package is a welcome recognition that tackling cold homes can create jobs, boost the economy and cut our climate emissions.” Dr Richard Dixon, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said the Government was right to prioritise a new climate bill and called for it to “set new targets f or 2020 and beyond, and pave the way for every sector of the economy to deliver carbon savings”. Alan Ferguson, chair of the Existing Homes Alliance, said: “It’s great news the government has decided to make tackling fuel poverty and driving up the energy performance of our homes a priority in the programme for government.
Herald 6th Sept 2016 read more »
Lang Banks: A commitment to ensure everyone in Scotland lives in a warm home and action to address fuel poverty should be priorities for the Scottish Government, campaigners said today. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will outline her Programme for Government for the upcoming term in Holyrood this afternoon and WWF Scotland has highlighted key areas expected to feature in the Programme that could create jobs, boost the economy as well as tackle climate change. Promised in the SNP’s manifesto, a Warm Homes Bill is needed to support the rapid growth of district heating and renewable heat in Scotland. With approximately 50 per cent of Scotland’s emissions coming from heating, WWF Scotland said this would bring clean and green warmth to thousands of homes and create new industrial jobs. Also with fuel poverty deadlines approaching and households wasting cash and carbon heating leaky homes, the charity argued that increased investment in energy efficiency is needed. A goal must be set to ensure no-one in Scotland is living in a cold & draughty home- meeting this would create 8-9,000 jobs spread across the country, with most of those in small and medium-sized businesses, it said.
Scottish Housing News 6th Sept 2016 read more »