Hadyard Hill helps us all to go green

Aug 15 2007 Ayrshire Post

HOMES in the area around the Hadyard Hill wind farm have benefited from energy efficiency measures.

And Councillor Ian Fitzsimmons, who chairs the Hadyard Hill Community Energy Project, says it’s been a resounding success.

He said: “The success is thanks to over 90 per cent of the community who enthusiastically supported and participated in the project.

“This is a unique project using wind farm funds to improve the energy efficiency of households in the area. It was great, for instance, that over 70 per cent households were able to benefit from the free insulation measures.”

Households who received the free insulation can also look forward to an average annual fuel bill saving of £150. This figure is before any measures are taken to change behaviour, for example, only boiling a kettle with the amount of water needed.

Households received a list of similar useful tips, which the Energy Saving Trust calculates can reduce fuel bills by a further 20 per cent.

A key objective of the project was to reduce fuel poverty, and independent advice was available to provide benefit maximisation checks, if requested.

To date, the average increase in annual income following a successful benefit maximisation check is £3845.

The Community Energy Project is now writing to all households offering grants and encouragement to install renewable energy systems such as solar water heating.

The communities of Dailly, Barr, Pinwherry and Pinmore are the ones eligible to benefit from the energy efficiency fund.

The fund was created by Scottish and Southern Energy in connection with the wind farm.

The energy efficiency fund, which is in addition to the more general community benefit fund, will deliver more than £300,000 worth of energy efficiency advice and improvements to households in the area.

ENERGY BOOST: Fiona Johnstone of Barr won a wide-screen TV in a prize draw used to generate publicity and encourage the community to take part in the energy efficiency project. AP570007F