News | Energy Efficiency

http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/energy-efficiency-by-technology-renewable-energy-news/scotland-grants-10m-to-local-councils-to-help-meet-12-per-cent-energy-reduction-target.html

Scotland has set its first national target to improve energy efficiency with a commitment to cut energy consumption by 12 per cent by 2020, alongside the issue of £10m in grants to local councils.

The Scottish government has published an Action Plan to help the country achieve the new efficiency target, which includes creating a single energy and resource efficiency service for Scottish businesses.
This roadmap also includes government energy reporting, a commitment to fuel efficient transport and supporting training systems to enable business opportunities in the energy efficiency industry.
The country’s First Minister Alex Salmond announced the target at the latest Energy Advisory Board meeting, whilst also revealing details of a £10m raft of grants to enable local councils to offer free insulation measures and provide energy saving advice.
Around 27 regions of Scotland are set to benefit from the energy efficiency grants. Fife is to receive the largest of the grants, with £850,000; followed by South Lanarkshire, which will be granted £800,000. Local authorities submitted bids for grants amounting to £17m under the scheme.
Scotland has an ambitious carbon-reduction target of a 42 per cent cut in carbon dioxide by 2020. The country’s existing energy commitments include a target to generate 80 per cent of Scottish electricity consumption levels from renewable energy within the next decade.
By improving household energy efficiency, the Scottish government estimates that the country could save an estimated £2bn by 2020 from energy bills.
The government also estimates that investment in energy efficiency over the same period could directly support around 10,000 jobs in Scotland.
Salmond said, ‘Scotland is well-positioned to power the low carbon economy, harnessing our vast renewables potential. Just as we will be at the vanguard of the renewables revolution, we must also help lead a revolution in energy efficiency – tackling demand and improving the efficiency of our homes, transport systems and energy use right across the public and private sectors.
‘Making our homes and other buildings more energy efficient is the easiest and quickest way to cut carbon emissions, while reducing fuel costs and supporting jobs,’ he added.
The £10m in grants is also designed to help local authorities provide energy efficiency advice and offer free insulation and other energy saving measures.
Salmond estimates that the measure will lead to an average of £50 a year savings on household bills.
The grants build on the £15m discounted and free insulation scheme that Scotland announced earlier this month.
‘The Scottish government will take a lead by committing to publishing details of the Scottish Government’s weekly energy consumption in our headquarters by Spring 2011,’ said Salmond.
Ian Marchant, convener of Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group, added, ‘Energy efficiency needs a major raising of our collective game.’
Through targeting economic growth while reducing energy consumption, Marchant claims that Scotland’s objectives are a first for a modern economy.