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Big savings for small businesses
07/12/2008
More small businesses will now be able to access interest free loans to cut fuel bills.
In line with moves to boost the economy, the Scottish Government has extended eligibility for its small business loans scheme to extend help with energy saving measures.
From tomorrow, private landlords, agriculture and transport businesses will be able to get interest free loans from £1,000 to £100,000 for energy efficiency measures or installation of small scale renewables, such as solar panels or ground source heating. Small businesses such as manufacturing or catering businesses can already benefit.
Loans can cover 100 per cent of the capital costs. Last year, businesses which took loans saved an average of £5,500 a year on fuel bills.
Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said:
"A waste of energy is a waste of money. In a global economic downturn, we will take every step we can to keep the Scottish economy moving.
"One of the easiest ways to save money is to save energy and this Government is providing maximum support to small and medium sized enterprises while investing in a greener future. In line with our economic recovery plan, more small business will now get the best advice and access to interest free loans for energy efficiency measures.
"As part of the roll out of energy performance certificates, landlords will need to provide a certificate for new tenants from January. They can now access interest free loans to reduce tenants' bills and improve the energy performance of our housing. Better energy efficiency is crucial if we are to achieve our ambitious emissions reduction targets.
"And extending the scheme to include small scale renewables gives an incentive to generate clean, green energy and contribute to a sustainable energy future. I would urge landlords and small businesses to apply for this support to cut costs and reduce emissions."
The Scottish Government is investing £2 million in the scheme this year.
John Blackwood, Director of the Scottish Association of Landlords, said:
"Landlords are always looking for ways to improve their properties and access to interest free loans for energy efficiency will give tenants a warmer home - and cheaper fuel bills. This move could also help improve the energy efficiency of thousands of properties and will be warmly welcomed by landlords."
The Scottish Government has drawn up a six-point programme with the aims of boosting economic development and helping households in difficult times. The programme includes reshaping capital expenditure, intensifying activity and support for tourism and Homecoming 2009, ending activity that could be burdensome to development, intensifying work around energy efficiency, increasing advice to businesses and individuals and improving financial advice to vulnerable individuals.
The loans scheme, formerly known as Loan Action Scotland, is being rebranded to 'Energy Saving Scotland - small business loans' to bring it in line with the Scottish Government's wider Energy Saving Scotland banner.
The loans scheme is run by the Energy Saving Trust and delivered in conjunction with the Energy Saving Scotland advice network services (in Ayr, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kirkwall, Oban and Stornoway ), by experienced and expert local organisations, giving full geographical coverage across Scotland. Businesses can access their local centre on freephone 0800 512 012 or visiting the Energy Saving Trust website.
The Scottish Government's new £55 million Energy Assistance Package will help one million fuel poor Scots. The package will help increase incomes, provide free insulation measures for those most vulnerable to fuel poverty and enhanced energy efficiency measures - including central heating, renewable heating systems and insulation for hard to treat homes - for low income households
From January 4, 2009, new requirements for landlords take effect. Where a property is to be let, landlords must make a copy of a valid Energy Performance Certificate available to a prospective or new tenant. An Energy Performance Certificate rates the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building from A to G, with A being the least polluting. There are similar arrangements for when buildings are to be sold and for large public buildings.