A BIG campaign to combat fuel poverty in Inverclyde has taken a step forward.
The Wise Group, one of Scotland's biggest social enterprises, has teamed up with three local housing associations to deliver a new programme called Energy Activator.
The two-year scheme will give residents of Cloch, Oak Tree and Larkfield housing the help they need to cut energy costs.
The project has been funded by the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund.
Paul McVey, director of Cloch Housing Association, said: “We are delighted to launch the Energy Activator Project for our customers , along with our partners at Oak Tree and Larkfield Housing Association.
“This two-year project will help reduce the rate and risk of fuel poverty in our communities and improve awareness of energy use and energy efficiency measures across our associations and our estates.
“With the Wise Group now on board, and our three energy activators employed in Greenock, we are confident that we can look to reduce household energy usage.
“This will be done using a variety of innovative and exciting methods in the community, including resource packs, video blogs and DIY workshops, all focused on adopting positive behavioural changes relating to energy and resource use.”
Meanwhile The Wise Group will also continue to work with the council to meet the targets set out by the government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland (HEEPS).
It aims to keep residents living in deprived areas warmer and healthier.
Over the last five years this initiative has helped 1,745 local residents by installing a range of insulation measures, saving households on average around £200 per year.
The environmentally-friendly measures have also contributed to a saving of more than 50,000 tonnes of carbon, while also improving the appearance of local neighbourhoods.
Sean Duffy, chief executive of the Wise Group, said: “In Scotland, in 2018, living in a warm home that’s affordable to heat should be a basic human right, yet every day we talk to people forced to choose between eating and heating.
"Delivering these contracts will allow us to help more people who otherwise would be facing that impossible decision this coming winter."
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