Crockart demands Green Deal programme in Scotland

Lib Dem Edinburgh West MSP Mike Crockart has pressed the Scottish Government to sign up to Westminster's Energy Secretary Chris Huhne's Green Deal programme, which promises to boost the UK's green behaviour.

The programme, which will come into force from 2012, means to improve the energy efficiency of several thousands of houses in the country, as well as companies, at no upfront cost.

Landlords will be able to take loans up to £10,000 guaranteed by the Government to carry out the insulation of their property, and pay them back in instalments, proportionally to the savings they will make after the improvements.

However, as energy is a devolved area, Scotland has a different legislation. Mr Crockart said: “Fuel poverty has been a problem for many years but our local climate makes heating costs an issue of particular concern for Scotland."

Mr Huhne said: “At a time of increasing gas prices, energy efficiency is a no-brainer." 

The most energy-efficient homes could save up to £550 per year, and the scheme could create up to 100,000 jobs.

An estimated 20 per cent of British homes have a low energetic efficiency. Tenants will be able to demand their landlords to carry out the reasonable measures to save energy, and local authorities will be allowed to oblige them to insulate their most energy-leaking properties.

Negotiations between Westminster and the Scottish government are now taking place to extend these measures across the UK.

Speaking to The Journal, Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh West Margaret Smith said: “I want Scotland to say goodbye to cold damp housing and usher in a new era of homes that are warmer and cheaper to heat.  

“In addition to putting money back into Scots’ pockets, the Green Deal will boost the number of green collar workers by 100,000 across the UK. That could mean an extra 10,000 jobs for Scotland over the next five years.  

“I understand that the Scottish Government officials are in discussions with their UK counterparts.  I hope they extend a similar scheme across the country, so that Scotland isn’t left out of this green revolution.”