Keep your home warm this winter

People across Scotland are urged to act now to cut their bills and make their homes warmer as part of a Scottish Government campaign.
DRAUGHT EXCLUDER: Doug the Caterpillar is helping to promote the Home Energy Scotland campaign.DRAUGHT EXCLUDER: Doug the Caterpillar is helping to promote the Home Energy Scotland campaign.
DRAUGHT EXCLUDER: Doug the Caterpillar is helping to promote the Home Energy Scotland campaign.

The Home Energy Scotland Hotline is a one-stop shop for advice and support to help Scots keep warm this winter and beyond.

Around a third of Scottish households have been offered advice by the hotline since it started and is the only source of clear and impartial advice on how to make your home cheaper to heat.

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The campaign to highlight the hotline comes as the Scottish Government has announced it will invest millions into a new national fuel poverty scheme.

This will build on the success of the Energy Assistance Scheme, which has provided over 46,000 vulnerable households with heating and/or insulation measures over the past five years.

Everyone can get help from the hotline, it is not just for the stereotypically disadvantaged or elderly people.

As well as receiving money-saving energy advice, households may be eligible to receive money towards the cost of replacing their old, inefficient boiler with a new model, which could also cut hundreds of pounds off their annual fuel bills.

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Many are also in line for free loft and cavity wall insulation, and some will even receive a full central heating system at no cost.

The government’s new scheme will build on the existing programme to address fuel poverty, which affects 27 per cent of all Scottish households, through a mix of rising energy prices and the many old, inefficient houses.

The government will shortly be inviting bids for a contract, worth up to £224 million over seven years, to deliver the scheme from 2015.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “It takes just one phone call to the hotline to see if you can save money on winter fuel bills

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“Anyone can get energy efficiency advice and find out what’s available to them, and many others can also qualify for energy saving improvements such as insulation, boilers or central heating for free.

“Rising energy bills remain a huge concern for the Scottish Government and I‘m delighted to announce the new national fuel poverty scheme which will help thousands more households.”

To find what you are eligible for call 0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org.uk.