TEAS Current Projects 2011
• Programme of works – Insulation
TEAS is working in partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy and Taigh Blath (local Insulation Installer) to offer grants for Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation works during 2011. The works include a free home energy survey and Installation of Insulation. Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) provide this range of grants and subsidies in order to meet its obligations under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT).
Fuel suppliers are obligated by Government to invest funding to install energy efficiency measures and promote reductions in carbon emissions for households. This in turn reduces energy bills and energy consumption. At least 40% of this funding must be directed at a priority group of low income and elderly customers.
Fuel suppliers can invest this money in a number of ways, however having worked over 15 years in partnership with TEAS: The Energy Advisory Service and Taigh Blath, Scottish and Southern have invested significantly to Insulation improvements in the Islands. The grant schemes focus on providing a home energy survey, Loft Insulation and Cavity wall Insulation (where applicable) and supplying low energy monitors.
Craig Thompson, Partnership Manager, Scottish and Southern, travelled to the Islands recently to see first hand how the funding is being utilised locally. Craig also took time to meet with local Councillors and Committee members.
• Community Development
TEAS will work with a number of local community groups during 2011 to provide energy efficiency advice and Insulation measures in domestic properties. This follows on from our very successful partnership with North Harris Trust, delivering a low carbon project over the last two years.
Finding carbon friendly solutions to improve the warmth and energy efficiency of island homes is a challenge, with rural areas needing essential travel journeys to enable service delivery. The project looked at a low carbon delivery approach by working with the residents of North Harris to achieve maximum energy efficiency in terms of heating, insulation and draught-proofing in the home. The principal project outcomes looked at reducing carbon and fuel poverty while at the same time improving householders understanding of ways to save energy and in turn improve the energy efficiency of the local housing stock. This was delivered using a number of key outputs including delivering 350 home energy efficiency packs, providing a mix of Loft and cavity wall insulation measures in 100 properties and completing a number of community information and schools events.
• Calum J MacKay, Chair of the North Harris Trust summarised the project as follows:
As well as reducing its Carbon Footprint the Community Carbon Challenge project has improved the lives of a large part of the North Harris population. It has installed insulation in houses that previous schemes had bypassed. It has educated the children and given households the tools to understand and reduce their energy consumption. The project was managed locally and delivered by locals securing work and investing in the local economy. The Community Carbon Challenge has been a success on many fronts in North Harris.
Current community projects include:
• Tolsta Development
• Fuel poverty project
Due to a gap in service provision, TEAS are expanding the current service to provide a dedicated fuel poverty officer who will work with vulnerable clients and those affected by cancer and other long-term disabling conditions throughout the Outer Hebrides. The project will work closely with Macmillan and Western Isles Islands Council to deliver this vital service.
The officer will provide advice on Insulation and heating grants, tariffs, fuel bill concerns and also referrals on to both the Care and Repair and Homesafety Service, from the comfort of the client's home. This service will also provide a support for other energy efficiency issues, such as when a customer has problems with setting timers or changing timers when clocks change. The officer will raise awareness of the project by working closely with the local health agencies, home care and social workers and offer support to patients returning home from hospital. This will help prevent patient bed blocking and ensure the most vulnerable members of our community are receiving help and assistance at a most crucial time.
The project officer will also dedicate time to updating our Fuel Poverty Assessment and Monitoring project 2006 (FPAMP).
• TOMORROWS CONSUMERS
As part of our ongoing energysolutions project work funded by LEADER, TEAS will be hosting a number of schools energy and environment workshops during 2011. This work has recently commenced and we were delighted to assist the pupils of English Primary 5/6 class at Sgoil a' Bhac. The pupils plan to swap light bulbs for plant bulbs. This is to create a nice new garden at their school. TEAS are pleased to donate energy-saving light bulbs for this innovative school enterprise project.
