COMMENTING on today’s (Saturday 12 March) Scottish Government announcement of a £500,000 interest-free loan scheme to help householders install Green energy0generating equipment, WWF Scotland’s Climate Change policy officer, Dr Sam Gardner, said:
“This announcement provides welcome recognition of the need to tackle the carbon emissions from heating our homes. This is a start, but it needs to be built upon to make a real and lasting difference.
“While it is encouraging that heat, rather than just electricity, is beginning to get the attention it deserves the size of the fund is far too modest to make any meaningful impact.
“If each loan application is for the full £2,000 then the budget will only cover 250 homes. We urgently need to shift the market and bridge the gap until the UK Government’s own schemes kick in next year.
“Almost half of Scotland’s total energy use is for heating and so this fund not only needs to be extended but also matched by a significant financial package that would allow all families to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
“Doing so would protect them from increasing gas and oil prices while tackling climate change.”
WWF is calling on all political parties in Scotland to commit to introducing financial packages, such as loans and grants, to help families upgrade their homes to improve their energy efficiency.
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/03/11142409e
MEDIA RELEASE posted by WWF Scotland. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Mandy Carter
Phone: 01350 728200
Website: http://www.wwfscotland.org.uk
