Internal wall insulation specialists Matilda’s Planet has recruited Conal McElroy to head up business development in Scotland and to fuel expansion of the business north of the border.

Conal, an experienced business development manager in the renewable energy industry, will lead the businesses push to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial property in Scotland, by working with social and private landlords to show them how than can save energy and increase the value of their properties.

Major Scottish social landlords including Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) and North Lanarkshire Council have already chosen to work with Matilda’s to improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock.

Recent research by the Existing Homes Alliance (EHA) revealed there are an estimated 1.5m ‘cold homes’ in Scotland – homes with Energy Performance Certificates ratings ranging between D and F.

Matilda’s Planet expects the energy retrofit industry to grow in Scotland in the coming years after the introduction of a new Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH), and the Scottish Government’s pledge to publish a Warm Homes Bill to tackle fuel poverty and increase energy efficiency.

Conal, based in Edinburgh, will work with landlords across Scotland and the north of England to help address cold, leaky, energy inefficient properties.

Sean McLaughlin, managing director of Matilda’s Planet, said: “Conal joins Matilda’s Planet at a pivotal time in the company’s development in Scotland, as Registered Social Landlords face the challenge of meeting their energy efficiency obligations as part of EESSH. Conal’s experience will be vital as we continue our discussions with RSLs across the country on how to help deliver safer, warmer homes for all social housing tenants by 2020.

“Many rural communities in Scotland face an extra logistical challenge in delivering much-needed property improvements, due to the scarcity of local suppliers and building merchants. We’ve found that our off-site manufacture process offers a far more practical solution in these areas, with far less waste than traditional methods.”

Prior to joining Matilda’s Planet, Conal was sales director at Absolute Solar and Wind, responsible for establishing its new wind turbine division, with turbines ranging from 10kw to 500kw. Prior to that, he led fledgling start-up SIAC Renewables Limited into the renewable energy market with a new business plan and marketing strategy that delivered consistent turnover growth.

Conal McElroy, said: “Matilda’s Planet’s values are very closely aligned to my own: they are genuinely committed to making a positive impact on the built and natural environment, and also to people’s lives.

“I’m proud of Scotland for leading the rest of the UK in its approach to energy efficiency. I’m really looking forward to building on Matilda’s Planet’s success north of the border and helping more landlords cut their energy bills and increase the comfort, desirability, and value of their properties.”