Turning Up The Heat On Pollution
ANGUS Council is turning up the heat in its battle against pollution.
The authority is improving the energy efficiency of its council houses to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, one of the main factors behind global warming.
In addition, the measures mean tenants are paying less to keep their homes warm.
Angus Council’s Housing Convenor Frank Ellis said: "Although all of our council houses already have some insulation provision, because we take our environmental responsibilities seriously, we are ensuring that insulation levels are boosted in line with current recommended standards.
"Energy efficiency improvements to our council houses not only help us reach the targets set out in our environment strategy, but they also help to alleviate fuel poverty amongst our tenants.
"Better insulation levels mean that less fuel is needed to heat people's homes, leaving them more money for other essential items."
The Council’s programme to upgrade the insulation in all its 9700 houses has been greatly helped by an established partnership with Scottish & Southern Energy, who have provided £70,000 funding in Angus since 1999 to insulate electrically heated homes.
John Marchbank of Scottish & Southern's energy efficiency section said: "We have a commitment to helping local authorities and home owners take practical steps to achieve energy efficiency improvements, which are essential if global warming is to be reduced. The funding of insulation work in Angus is a clear demonstration of that commitment."
David Cheyne of Forfar has just become the 600th council tenant to benefit from this funding, and as a result received a free energy efficient kettle and low energy light bulbs at presentation in his Forfar home.
Mr Cheyne said: "We've really noticed the difference since the work was done - we haven't changed the heating settings, but the house is definitely a lot warmer."
Angus Council plans to continue this work until all its houses have insulation levels up to or above the recommended standard.