Scottish fund to help make homes greener
A new £3m fund will help hundreds of people living in fuel poverty to get their own green energy supply, according to the Scottish government.
The money is available as interest-free loans to help people install renewable heat and electricity systems.
Householders can borrow up to £10,000 to help with the cost of installing devices such as solar panels, micro wind turbines or biomass boilers.
As well as helping the environment, the devices can cut energy costs.
Households can also receive payments for supplying electricity to the national grid.
Renewable-heat premium payment vouchers - one-off payments to householders to help them buy green heating technologies - are also available.
The Scottish government said the funding would be targeted at homes living in fuel poverty.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "As well as being a huge help in fighting fuel poverty, this investment will help Scotland become greener.
"The wide take-up of small-scale technologies will be vital for helping us to become a truly low-carbon economy.
"This investment will also help to boost our micro-generation market, which will also help to create jobs in this fast-growing industry and meet our commitment to deliver renewable energy and energy-efficient homes in those communities worst affected by fuel poverty."
Mike Thornton, director of Energy Saving Trust in Scotland, said the funding will "help many more households benefit from renewables technology".
He said: "It is a very positive step in the journey to increase the use of renewables in the home and to help people cut their fuel bills."