High energy bills and cost of living crisis are a bigger concern for Scottish households than investing in the NHS and education, a new poll has revealed .
New polling by leading social enterprise Changeworks shows that the Scottish population rank tackling the high cost of living and energy bills as their biggest concern, over investing in the NHS and improving the quality of education. Additionally, 83% are concerned about continued steep rises in energy bills, with 71% supporting switching to renewable and sustainable energy for their home energy.
However, whilst there is a clear will – and need – to reduce energy bills and have access to clean energy, there is a big knowledge gap when it comes to understanding how sustainable technologies work in the home. Worryingly, nearly half of those polled (45%) stated they don’t know if air source heat pumps work in Scotland.
With upcoming legislation in Scotland primed to ensure households upgrade their gas boilers with an energy efficient heating system – such as a heat pump – this knowledge gap needs to be addressed, alongside providing financial support to access these types of technologies.
Changeworks, a leading social enterprise dedicated to making Scotland’s homes more energy efficient, delivers the Green Energy Helpline, which provides free advice and support to enable households to adopt low-carbon, sustainable technologies in and out of the home, thereby lowering energy bills.
Liam Kidd, the helpline’s Service Manager, said: “We know many people in Scotland are concerned about the high cost of living and energy bills, and that most are open to moving to cleaner technologies – but they don’t know where to start, or where to find trustworthy information.
“That’s where the Green Energy Helpline comes in. Our team offers practical, personalised advice that helps households make sense of their options and feel confident taking the next step. With so many in Scotland struggling to afford rising energy costs, this kind of support is more important than ever.”
The Green Energy Helpline is specifically aimed to reach customers at risk of being left behind in the transition to net zero. Funded by SP Energy Networks, the Green Energy Helpline provides personalised advice on the best options for households to help them adopt low-carbon, sustainable technologies. The service can also signpost callers to funding opportunities and other services to help households move towards a more energy efficient home.
Call the Green Energy Helpline on 0800 008 7766, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, or visit changeworks.org.uk/greenenergy to find out more.