ALTERNATIVE TAKE

Published on Tuesday 13 January 2009 19:08

MALCOLM SAYERS, from Dunbar, on home-insulation funding

If the 1 billion Scottish Budget funding for energy efficiency comes to fruition this week, as seems likely, it will be loudly applauded from all quarters – applauded for being double the size of the very effective Central Heating Programme, previously the biggest investment in energy efficiency Scotland has ever seen. In a time of soaring fuel costs, stagnant incomes and a failing economy this will also be applauded for providing a massive boost to jobs and industry while lowering fuel bills and increasing disposable income. It will be applauded for delivering carbon reduction on the sort of scale required if we are to play our part in tackling the climate change we have helped create.

However, in the midst of all the applause a dose of caution is required. The talk has so far been that this spend will be solely for cavity wall and loft insulation, which, for many flats and solid wall houses in Scotland, is irrelevant. These houses cannot benefit from such limited measures. There is no need to be so prescriptive; all cost-effective carbon reduction measures need to be supported. Measures such as dry-lining solid wall houses, wider insulation measures and consideration of micro-generation are examples of other effective ways to reduce carbon.

With a bit more imagination all homes can benefit from this substantial and welcome use of taxpayers' money.