Councillors have approved the latest updates to the Strategy which outlines a range of activities and proposals designed to deliver a sustainable and energy-resilient area.

The LHEES has been developed via engagement with key stakeholders including two stakeholder events, sessions with Argyll and Bute Energy Efficiency Forum and Climate Change Board and engagement with electricity network distributors. An extensive public consultation exercise in September and October also attracted a wide range of responses from individuals and submissions on behalf of groups or organisations.

The LHEES outlines the long-term objectives for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving energy efficiency across Argyll and Bute with measures including:

• Enhancing the grid infrastructure in urban and rural areas to assist the transition to decarbonised heat and prevent rural areas from being marginalised
• Encouraging training providers to offer opportunities in energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation skills, promoting construction as a career path for school students and increasing the number of apprenticeships in decarbonisation-related jobs
• Creating greater awareness among building owners of the need to decarbonise and the options available
• Promoting existing and new programmes to support building owners in improving energy efficiency or decarbonising their heat source
• Exploring options to help communities maximise energy generation benefits in their area such as establishing local energy distribution projects, providing communal heating projects and creating high-quality jobs in the green economy
• Prioritising the installation of heat networks or heat pumps in homes that use direct electric heating
• Increasing focus on homes where poor energy efficiency contributes to fuel poverty
• Maximising funding and investment in remote rural and island decarbonisation projects
• Engaging with private sector building owners and tenants to encourage greater adoption of energy efficiency initiatives.

Council leader, Councillor Jim Lynch, said: “Tackling fuel poverty, reducing emissions, raising awareness of the opportunities presented by the green economy and improving the energy efficiency of our communities are all essential building blocks in our drive to deliver a sustainable, net zero Argyll and Bute.

“These issues are ones which already impact all of us and have implications for future generations which is why gathering feedback from our communities has been such an integral part of the process.

“The public consultation exercise generated really positive feedback both in terms of volume of response and general support for our objectives and was extremely valuable in assisting the revision of the LHEES.”