Local MSP Brian Whittle has challenged the First Minister to offer more heat to rural homeowners as energy prices rise.
The South Scotland MSP highlighted the challenges facing homeowners in older houses which rely on oil-fired heating as costs rise and they consider moving to a zero-carbon replacement.
With the cost domestic heating oil rising rapidly, Brian urged the First Minister to consider giving greater support to off-gas-grid homes as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver a million zero-carbon heated homes by 2030.
According to some estimates, the cost of replacing an oil heating system with a heat pump and upgrading the insulation in older rural homes could be over £30,000. While Home Energy Scotland offers interest free loans to help with these costs, the amount available to homeowners is capped at a maximum of £15,000.
During First Minister’s Questions, Brian argued that homes that are using some of the most carbon intensive heating systems and could never benefit from a future move to a hydrogen gas grid should be first in line for support with the heavy cost of switching.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“The Scottish Government have been quick to congratulate themselves on their target for homes with zero-carbon heating but there’s still a worrying lack of detail about how they plan to deliver this monumental change.
It’s right that we take steps to move away from fossil fuels for heating and properly insulate our homes, but at the same time, we need to recognise these changes come with a cost and for some homes that cost will be much higher than others.
While homes connected to the mains gas network might have the possibility of switching to hydrogen heating in years to come, that alternative isn’t available for people living in homes that aren’t on the grid.
The Scottish Government should prioritise funding support for rural homes where not only are greater costs a barrier to change, but we can eliminate one of the most carbon intensive forms of heating, faster.”
