£15million of private sector funding facilitated by energy efficiency charity, Scarf, drives sustainable home improvements in the North-east.
Fully funded retrofit insulation measures and renewable technology installations have been awarded to more than 800 homes and over 2,500 energy efficiency measures have been implemented. Since autumn 2023, Scarf has facilitated over £15million of private sector funding through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO 4-FLEX) scheme, resulting in annual fuel bill savings of approximately £1.3million and a reduction of 4,000 tonnes in carbon emissions.
Building on this success, Scarf’s home energy advice team delivered an additional 20,000 cost and carbon-reducing measures across more than 4000 households. These extra initiatives have contributed an estimated £750,000 to household annual bill savings while cutting around 1,800 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
In a region where 71% of those who come to Scarf are experiencing fuel poverty, this multi-pronged approach is vital in alleviating energy costs and improving living standards. On average, Scarf interventions remove on average 15-20% of these people from fuel poverty. The surge in demand for Scarf’s services—up by 29% since last year—highlights the growing need for comprehensive energy efficiency solutions.
Lawrence Johnston, Co-CEO of Scarf, stated: “It’s easy to forget these numbers represent homes that need support. That’s why we deliver our projects with a people-first approach that not only achieves impressive savings and carbon reductions but also directly helps the individuals struggling with fuel poverty in our communities.”
Scarf is a registered charity and social enterprise that works in partnership with local and national stakeholders to help lower fuel bills and carbon emissions for householders, communities and businesses throughout the North East of Scotland. Scarf are actively seeking collaborations to further expand these essential services.
To find out more, visit www.scarf.org.uk