Image source, bbc

Social housing landlords will be able to make their properties more energy efficient, with money from a £3.5 million decarbonisation fund.

Local authorities and housing associations will be able to use the fund on projects that improve energy efficiency and decarbonise heating, for example when installing solar panels or air source heat pumps.

Funding will be available to Local Authority and Housing Association landlords across 2018-19 and 2019-20. The majority will be front-loaded, requiring spend in the current financial year 2018-19.

Image source, Thinkstock

Scottish ministers are weighing options for setting up a new state-owned company that would supply household power and could invest in renewable energy.

The model set out in a consultancy report could extend in the long term to providing broadband.

One of the options is for a national provider to sell electricity and gas through local councils.

The plans have been drawn up by consultancy EY.

It follows First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's pledge last October to set up a household energy supplier.

• Scotland to set up public energy firm
• How would a state-run energy company work?

The report estimated the cost of setting up the company could be up to £3.5m, with first year running costs at £9m.

However, it has warned that there is already tough competition on price, with 42 rival companies in the Scottish market.

Read more.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur agrees with his colleagues that having energy efficiency as a national priority requires the funding behind it.

He notes his constituency - Orkney - has the accolade of having the highest rate of fuel poverty, in part because it is off the grid.

We need to rural-proof all policy to do with fuel poverty, Mr McArthur says.

He goes on to highlight the Rural Poverty Task Force recommendation that using a minimum income standards across Scotland to measure fuel poverty is inappropriate given the higher cost of living in rural and remote areas.

This recommendation has been ignored in the route map, he states.

The Lib Dem MSP urges the Scottish government to look again at the task force's recommendations.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Mark Ruskell begins by stating this is the start of scrutiny on the government plan and not the end of it.

Mr Ruskell says energy efficiency is the best tool in the box to end fuel poverty, create thousands of jobs, lower carbon emission levels and increase energy resilience.

The Green MSP adds that the incentives to homeowners need to be there.

He points out confusion in the public and welcomes the one stop shop approach in the route map but adds it needs to go further.

Image source, Energy Saving Trust

The Energy Saving Trust says: "Get in touch with us for free by calling our friendly advisors on 0808 808 2282 or request a call back

"Home Energy Scotland, externaladvisors are available on the phone Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, and on Saturday from 9am to 5pm."

Significantly higher levels of funding would be needed to make energy efficiency a national infrastructure priority, says Ms McNeill.

Only £5.4m is new funding, she suggests.

Half of homeowners have an EPC rating of lower than C but the route map includes no new incentives or support for them, the Labour MSP argues.

She backs a one-stop shop for home energy advice recommended by Citizens Advice Scotland's Consumer Futures Unit.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart points to the home energy Scotland advice helpline and urges members to direct constituents towards it.

Ms McNeill concludes by confirming her party backs the Scottish Conservatives' call for a more ambitious target than 2040.

"I call on the Scottish government to up their ambitions," she concludes.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill welcomes the publication of the Energy Efficient Scotland route map.

Ms McNeill agrees the most vulnerable must always be helped when policy is set out and the burden on poorer households must be alleviated.

She does say that the route map is a missed opportunity as there is not enough of a commitment to end fuel poverty.

The Labour MSP argues that the fuel poverty rate in rural Scotland is 10% higher than the rest of the country.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Energy efficiency measures could save the NHS £31-52m, Mr Burnett says.

While incentives to make buildings are available, reduction schemes were only taken up by six properties over three years, he says.

The Tory MSP calls for more funding to ensure energy efficiency is an infrastructure priority.

He also calls for sufficient government support to be offered to fuel suppliers which have a proportionately higher number of rural properties.

We find the SNP's programme "just not ambitious enough", Mr Burnett states.

We can do more than what is currently proposed, he concludes.

Social housing landlords will be able to make their properties more energy efficient, with money from a £3.5 million decarbonisation fund.

Local authorities and housing associations will be able to use the fund on projects that improve energy efficiency and decarbonise heating, for example when installing solar panels or air source heat pumps.

Image source, Scottish government

Funding will be available to Local Authority and Housing Association landlords across 2018/19 and 2019/20. The majority will be front-loaded, requiring spend in the current financial year 2018/19.

The governments says this is part of more than £5 million of additional funding to support the Energy Efficient Scotland: Transition Programme.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Alexander Burnett says everyone supports the principle of the Energy Efficient Scotland route map.

Mr Burnett adds that his party will support the Lib Dem amendment later which seeks to support energy efficiency in rural areas.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur welcomes the support but points out the amendment was not selected.

Mr Burnett reiterates his support for the content of the amendment nonetheless.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Mr Wheelhouse highlights £3.5m just announced by Housing Minister Kevin Stewart for a decarbonisation fund specifically aimed at registered social landlords.

The route map also includes the target to have all houses reach EPC C or better by 2040, the minister says.

There will also be earlier target milestones brought forward in regulations for rented property, he adds.

Mr Wheelhouse emphasises the importance of working with local authorities to deliver the government's priorities on decarbonising heat.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell expresses concern that renewable heat targets will be missed.

The minister recognises these concerns given setbacks but confirms the Scottish government is still aiming for 2020.

Mr Wheelhouse explains some uncertainty around heat is due to the UK government not making decisions yet on, for example, the UK gas grid.

The route map focuses on what the Scottish government can do now first and foremost, he states.

Image source, Getty Images

Government funding of more than £54m is to go towards tackling fuel poverty in Scotland, the first minister has said.

The money will be used to help meet a target to improve the energy efficiency of all homes by 2040.

The plan is set out in the Route Map to an Energy Efficient Scotland, launched by Nicola Sturgeon at the All Energy conference in Glasgow.

The funding will also support local authorities to expand existing energy efficiency and fuel poverty programmes.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse says 42% of homes in Scotland have an EPC band C or better.

Mr Wheelhouse outlines government efforts to tackle fuel poverty.

The government now sets very high energy efficiency standards for new builds, he argues.

The minister reiterates his point about government funding to tackle fuel poverty to the tune of £500m by 2021.