Scottish Enterprise is funding social housing retrofit under its Can Do challenge [pic via Creative Commons]
Five local authorities in Scotland will share £300k of funding, which Scottish Enterprise promises will ‘pave the way for warmer, greener social housing.’
The agency says it is on a mission to revolutionise heating provision across social housing in Scotland, through the Can Do Green Heat Retrofit Innovation Challenge. Working with the Scottish Government, this initiative will empower local authorities and registered social landlords to identify cutting edge retrofit solutions for their communities.
The Can Do challenge will provide the five successful projects with £300k in funding, to enable each local authority to optimise the efficiency and quality of their programmes, working to procure innovative solutions to the problems faced in heating their housing stock. The companies who provide solutions to these issues will have three months to assess the technical and commercial feasibility of their solutions. Scottish Enterpise say the focus will be on maximising efficiency and quality in social housing retrofit for the benefits of the tenants and the environment.
The projects to receive Can Do funding are:
- Perth and Kinross Council, with a pioneering green heat solution in Crieff’s Colville House.
- West Dunbartonshire Council, which is tackling low-carbon heating and hot water systems in multi-storey flats, to make these homes warmer and greener.
- Yorkhill Housing Association, which is using its grant to bring low-carbon heating and hot water to their Over 60’s Complex, ensuring comfort and sustainability for residents.
- Castlehill Housing Association, which aims to breathe new life into independent living housing with an integrated energy and low carbon heating solution.
- Aberdeenshire Council, which will explore connecting social housing to an existing heat network powered by deep geothermal energy.
Scottish Enterprise said:
These projects hold immense potential to transform social housing in Scotland. Imagine tenants living in warm, comfortable homes with lower energy bills, all while contributing to a greener future. We look forward to sharing the outcomes from these projects as they progress and demonstrate the potential for innovative green heat solutions across the country.
