Five social houses in Caol have been selected for a pilot retrofitting project as part of the Highland Council’s move to meet energy efficient home standards and tackle fuel poverty.
The Swedish timber properties will experience a whole house retrofit that will include external wall insulation, loft insulation, an air source heat pump, and solar PV with battery storage.
The homes were identified in a report following a meeting of the Climate Change Committee on October 5.
The pilot is currently at the feasibility stage, with properties having been surveyed and concept design reports outlining proposed actions produced. The council will now agree technical specifications and the scope of the work with the contractor.
When asked for further details on the properties and the pilot, including details of the properties’ current heating and insultation and dates for the pilot, a Highland Council spokesperson said the council was not in a position to provide answers at this stage as ‘final scope is still to be agreed internally and tenant engagement has not yet happened’.
As well as the retrofitting pilot, the council’s budget deficit has meant it is seeking external funding to support the housing stock energy efficiency issue.
A press release from the authority said: ‘With the council facing a massive budget deficit, funding to upgrade housing stock to meet the national standards far exceeds available budget with the Housing and Revenue Account (HRA). ‘
One funding source being looked at is the Energy Company Obligation Fund (ECO).
Chairperson of the Climate Change Committee, Councillor Karl Rosie, said that with fuel poverty disproportionately high in the Highlands, it was right for the council to investigate all options.
He said: “To progress with these required upgrade works it was crucial that the council sought external investment and it is pleasing to see those inquiries in action on the Caol pilot.
“ECO funding will allow the council to access significant levels of external funding to undertake energy efficiency works on eligible social properties, not just in Caol but across Highland.”