Glasgow has recieved £4.75m to retrofit existing housing stock

Glasgow City Council has received £4.75m from Energy Efficient Scotland to retrofit homes and reduce fuel poverty across the city. 

According to the Scottish House Condition Survey, an estimated 72,000 households in Glasgow were fuel poor in 2018, this means that more than 10% of their disposable household income was spent on fuel.

In a bid to ensure that no more than 5% of Scottish homes are in fuel poverty by 2040, and to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, Energy Efficient Scotland has awarded this funding to Glasgow to help retrofit the existing housing stock.

The funding will help to bring energy efficiencies to owner-occupied and private rented homes in wholly-owned and mixed tenure blocks.

The Energy Efficient Scotland funding has a number of key objectives including: upgrading housing stock, tackling fuel poverty, reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable local economic development.

The council will also to work to maximise Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding to vulnerable and low-income households, to complement and add to other funding of energy efficiency measures.

The planned programme of delivery will be reported to a council committee in August 2020. Scottish Government guidance following lockdown will determine start dates for retrofit works and household engagement.

Cllr Kenny McLean, city convener for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Public at Glasgow City Council, said: ‘This very welcome funding from Energy Efficient Scotland will help to reduce fuel poverty in Glasgow, supporting many people and families in the city.

‘Better energy efficiency in our homes not only saves money but reduces carbon emissions and contributes to curbing climate change.’

In related news, earlier this year (March 20) Glasgow joined the Cities with Nature Group to enhance the value of nature in and around the city.

The Cities with Nature Group is hosted by Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) to provide a shared platform for cities across the world to engage and connect.

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