Fewer than 0.04% of Scottish households join SNP’s green homes initiative

By TOM PETERKIN
Published on 20/08/2012 00:00

ONLY 841 of Scotland’s 2.37 million households have taken advantage of a flagship Scottish Government policy introduced to make homes greener as part of world-leading climate change legislation.

Three years ago ministers introduced a scheme that offered council tax discounts to home-owners who were prepared to make their properties more environmentally friendly by getting their lofts and walls insulated.

The initiative was a key part of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, which has been hailed as the most ambitious attempt to cut greenhouse emissions anywhere in the world.

However, a survey of Scotland’s 32 councils, conducted using Freedom of Information legislation, has revealed that fewer than one household a day has taken advantage of the initiative since it became law.

Opposition politicians claimed the take-up was “pathetic” and urged the Scottish 
Government to do more to promote the scheme.

No fewer than 13 local authorities had not had a single application for the council tax energy efficiency discount scheme, while the total value of council tax rebates awarded across the country came to less than £46,000.

All councils have a duty under the 2009 Act to set up the scheme which provides people with a discount to their council tax (excluding water and 
sewerage) when they install energy efficient measures.

The scheme operates in conjunction with energy companies. The proposal offered by Scottish Gas is that a customer would buy cavity wall insulation for £250 and/or Loft insulation for £274 and receive a Council Tax discount of £60.

It is estimated by Scottish Gas that annual energy savings (based on a three-bedroom semi-detached property) of £160 through cavity wall insulation and £205 through loft insulation could be achieved by the customer.

Scottish Gas would then refund the discount of £60 and administration costs to the local authority for each installation carried out under the scheme.

Effective home insulation can dramatically cut down on emissions as well as saving money. It is estimated that the average UK house would save £280 per year and 1.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Yesterday Gavin Brown, the Conservative MSP who conducted the survey, said: “The Scottish Government is extremely 
ineffective when it comes down to delivery on climate change. The concept of a green council tax discount, as championed by the Conservatives, is a good one. However, the Scottish Government has clearly not kept track of the scheme and done precious little to promote it. The number of households that have been granted a green council tax discount is truly pathetic.

“The Scottish Government needs to explain why the results are so poor and tell us what action they intend to take to get the scheme back on track.”

Mr Brown added: “The Scottish Parliament passed world-leading climate change legislation but the SNP Government has failed to deliver on the ground. It makes you wonder where else they have failed to match words with deeds.”

Yesterday A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is fully committed to its world-leading carbon reduction targets, as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act. The Act places a duty under this Act to set up a scheme to provide people with a discount to their council tax when they install energy efficient measures.

Related Articles

• Scots told: insulate your homes or pay more in tax

  SCOTS who do not insulate their homes should be forced to pay higher council tax or face increased stamp duty on their property, according to a leading figure in the sector.

  85 Comments

• Want to save the world and some money?

  IT WAS the moment Donna Bryce's eco-conscience kicked in. As the engine of her Peugeot 206 idled in the inside lane, exhaust fumes formed a gaseous haze around scores of cars ahead of her on the M8.

• A tax worth paying due to the grounds?

  IN the distance, the hills flanking the Great Glen can just be made out. In the other direction, the view is of the Highlands' rolling fields. A mile outside Inverness, John Martin's timber-framed house, home to him, his wife and their son, is a rural haven.

• Make fuel waste an offence, demands climate expert

  HOMEOWNERS who do not to take action to improve the energy efficiency of their properties should be treated as criminals, one of the country's most influential environmentalists said last night.

• MSPs get power to fine over climate change

  A RAFT of new powers to crack down on wasteful homeowners and businesses were passed yesterday, giving the Scottish Government the tough tools it needs to meet what have been hailed as the world's most ambitious emissions targets.