Energy Efficiency in the Home
The Scottish Government currently defines fuel poverty as follows:
‘A household is in fuel poverty if, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, it would be required to spend more than 10% of its income (including Housing Benefit or Income Support for Mortgage Interest) on all household fuel use.’
There are three main factors which influence a household’s ability to heat their home to a satisfactory standard:
- Household income.
- Fuel prices.
- Energy efficiency of the home.
As a Local Authority, it is only the third factor which we can have any direct impact on.
Private Sector – Owner Occupiers and Tenants
Housing Services manages the delivery of projects which improve the energy efficiency of private sector properties throughout Orkney; supporting measures such as loft insulation, cavity-wall insulation, floor insulation, internal and external wall insulation.
Further information regarding the current schemes and grants available can be found under the 'Funding for Energy Efficiency Upgrades' link (under 'More pages in this section' at the top of this page).
Public Sector – Orkney Islands Council and Orkney Housing Association Tenants
The Council and OHAL are required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) and the Energy Efficiency Standards for Social Housing (EESSH). The second Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing has been introduced and requires to be met by 2032.
This means that every property should meet a certain level of energy efficiency irrespective of the property type or method of heating.
For advice or information regarding your Council or OHAL property please contact your respective landlord.
- Orkney Islands Council: 01856873535.
- Orkney Housing Association Ltd: 01856875253.
Advice
Additional support and energy efficiency advice is available from Home Energy Scotland (HES).
HES is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Energy Saving Trust. They offer free and impartial energy efficiency advice and are available on the freephone helpline number 08088082282.
A link to the HES website is available in the related sites section of this page.
