Workmen installing a solar water heater on the roof of Pinmore ceramics gallery, they have received advice from the Energy agency, Ayrshire.
In Scotland, developers of wind farms are often required to make an annual payment to the local community. The developer of the 120 MW Hadyard Hill wind farm (Scottish and Southern Energy) went further, and provided a lump sum specifically to help save cut energy use in three local villages. The Energy Agency in Ayrshire used this community fund to promote energy efficiency very intensively in the villages, and to provide free basic measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation. This resulted in very high take-up rates for basic measures (over 63% of households) as well as specialised insulation and solar water-heating in some households.
Because of the success of the area-based energy-efficiency programme at Hadyard Hill, energy supply companies funded the Energy Agency to replicate the work in other villages and deprived urban areas. The Energy Agency has also visited other community groups to promote the work, resulting in further projects. A review by WWF Scotland highlighted the cost-effectiveness of the area-based approach in rural areas.
