Changeworks: Creating a Green Energy Future for Scotland
Changeworks has been awarded almost £1.5 million from the Climate Action Fund to work with communities in Scotland to support the decarbonisation of homes and empower communities to work towards a greener future.
Its Highland Energy Community Partnership project, which includes Changeworks, with support from partners in the Highland Council, University of the Highlands and Islands, and Home Energy Scotland, seeks to increase access to the domestic retrofitting of green energy technologies, while upskilling rural communities by providing local tradespeople with greater access to training in the area.
The project aims to support communities that have historically struggled to access appropriate support and advice around energy efficiency.
Research from the Scottish Government’s latest House Condition Survey shows that 25% of homes in rural areas of Scotland are suffering from fuel poverty, compared to 17% in urban areas.
Last year Changeworks provided energy saving advice to 64,000 households across Scotland, helped over 13,000 households install energy-efficiency measures and renewable technologies, and, through its Affordable Warmth team, achieved over £1 million of savings for households.
One area of the Highlands that has benefitted from its work is the island of Raasay. With a population of only 179, it was chosen in 2022 as one of six Scottish islands to be supported by Changeworks’ Home Energy Scotland project, which supports the Scottish Government’s commitment to support the islands to reach net zero by 2040.
Its work on Raasay resulted in 42 Home Energy Improvement Reports, representing almost half of all households on the island, with over 20 properties also identified as being suitable for further support through the Highland Council Area Based Scheme (ABS), and over 12 suitable for a referral to the Warmer Homes Scotland (WHS) programme.
Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive at Changeworks, said: “We know that working alongside trusted community partners significantly increases the impact of our work within communities, whether this is increasing engagement around energy efficiency, or supporting communities to undertake the measures they can take collectively.
“Rural Highland has some of the poorest housing stock in Scotland, which is exacerbated by difficulties accessing the local green energy supply chain. The size of this project means that learning can now be shared across communities.
“With the help of this grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, we can continue to support communities in their efforts to lower emissions and increase energy efficiency within their homes.”