Transition Town Alness

Households across Alness received something important in the post over the last two weeks of November. Alness Transition Town Group has been working with the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre for the Highlands and Islands to send out a Home Energy Check form. The Energy Saving Trust’s survey is a series of questions on the type of house you live in and how it is heated that is used to create a personalised energy report.

Sending this form out to as many people as possible provides an overview of how efficient our houses are in Alness. This information will help Alness Transition Town Group and the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre co-ordinate a campaign to insulate homes across our community and improve energy efficiency. Some of the questions may require a walk around the house to provide you with the necessary information.

If you didn't receive a form through the post – if your household is signed up to the Mail Preference Service, for example – then contact Alness Transition Town Group (01349 884896) or the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre (0800 512 012). We have spare Home Energy Check forms available at the West End Community Centre. Alness Transition Town Group’s Community Powerdown Officer is Peter Elbourne and he said that it’s vital for as many people as possible to fill in one of these forms:

“This is a great opportunity to highlight potential energy savings you can make in your home, which may help you save hundreds of pounds on your fuel bills and reduce your carbon footprint. You may even find out that you qualify for free insulation”.

Similar mail-shots have been conducted in other communities in the Highlands, including a campaign in Caithness this August. It was co-ordinated with the help of Anne Sutherland – Community Powerdown Officer for Latheron, Lybster & Clyth Community Development Company – who was pleased with the response:

“The large number of forms returned meant that the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre were able to quickly organise an insulation campaign. We have already had cavity wall insulation installed and we’re starting to notice the difference now that the nights are drawing in.”

There was also additional information on Alness Transition Town Group in the mail-shot, including a feedback form on potential projects that could transform Alness into a community that is resilient to the challenges of climate change and peak oil. Please return one of these feedback forms to us!