Home insulation scheme extended to cut fuel bills

An additional 90,000 homes will be assessed for insulation

Assessors are to carry out energy audits at a further 90,000 homes in a Scottish government insulation scheme.

It could lead to homes being offered loft and cavity wall insulation in 10 council areas across the country.

The audits will almost double the number of homes to be visited by energy assessors to 190,000 in the first year of the home insulation scheme.

Among the areas to benefit are Stirling, Arbroath, Edinburgh and the Orkney islands.

The government said the measure would cut average energy bills by about £60 a year and help Scotland achieve its climate change targets.

'Smart thing'

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Our ambition is to create a low-carbon Scotland and help households cut their fuel bills.

"These are modern measures for modern times and will help us achieve Scotland's world-leading climate change targets.

"The freezing conditions this winter reminded us all how important it is to keep the heat in our homes - everyone wants to save money, it's the smart thing to do, and we will continue to help Scottish households do just that."

Most homes visited are likely to be offered free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation.

All homes will be visited by doorstep energy assessors and offered a free energy audit to establish insulation needs.

Top-ups will also be offered free to everyone who already has loft insulation that is not up to the recognised standard.

A third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home is through the walls.

Typically, a quarter of the heat in an uninsulated home is lost through the roof.