Energy: household & community

SBCAN endevours to connect communities and households in the Scottish Borders with resources to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and explore renewable solutions!

💡 What SBCAN Offer

  • Local advice & signposting for households and community projects: We can connect you with trusted support services like the ones below.

  • Workshops & events: We co-host energy-themed events and information sessions – from practical retrofit advice to future-facing talks on renewables and just transitions. please do get in touch if you are interested in co-hosting an event with us!

  • Access to funding: We can help community groups identify and apply for funding to kickstart energy projects. contact us on sbcan@sup.org.uk

Energy Resources for Households and Communities

  • Borders Community Action is one of a network of 32 Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) operating in Scotland. The Third Sector Interface act as an important force for change in Scotland’s communities by occupying a t: significant role in the local third sector landscape.

    Support for Community Energy Projects:

    Borders Community Action perform four key functions: act as a source of local intelligence; to enable voices to be heard; to connect leadership, vision and coordination; to build capacity needs.

    Intelligence: We provide support, learning and development opportunities for individuals and organisations. Our newsletters and regular news alerts on this website also provide updates relevant to the sector.

    Voice: We are a channel of communication between third sector organisations and statutory bodies. We are a point of consultation on community and voluntary sector issues and regularly attend strategic meetings at all levels, where many different organisations work together to benefit local communities.

    Connect: We can facilitate individuals and organisations to make connections by acting as a link between the ‘boots on the ground’ and statutory bodies and decision-makers.

    Capacity: We provide development and management assistance to third sector organisations to help develop their capacity to provide services within the community and achieve positive change. Examples are: help with setting up a new organisation, funding bids, drafting a constitution or other governing document, and developing volunteering capacity.

    Wider Support:

     Borders Community Action has recently announced the launch of a £650,000 Community Spaces Decarbonisation Fund, secured as part of the Community Regeneration Partnership (CRP). 

    This initiative, formerly known as the Levelling Up Fund, has been made possible through an agreement between the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Scottish Borders Council and Borders Community Action. This new funding is a significant step in supporting the sustainability and environmental resilience of community spaces across the region. The initiative aims to help local organisations reduce carbon emissions by investing in energy-efficient solutions, including renewable energy installations, insulation improvements, and heating system upgrades.

    Contact details:

    Home - Borders TSI

  • Local Energy Scotland (LES) manages CARES - the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme. CARES supports communities across Scotland to engage with, participate in and benefit from the energy transition to net zero emissions. The following funding for 25/26 was recently announced - £4.5 million for Community Buildings to help communities decarbonise the heating in their community building and £3.5 million (plus a further £5 million from GB Energy) for Community Energy Generation projects, offering support for community owned renewable electricity projects.

    Support for Community Energy Projects

    Through CARES, Local Energy Scotland offers a range of financial support and advice and technical support to community groups to get local energy projects up and running. Our service is free and impartial, and we will support you at every stage – from initial planning, through development and funding applications, right up to and beyond the launch. We can also direct you to other useful sources of funding and support, including those from other organisations that we work with. There is both capital and resource funding available for projects and plenty of case studies for information and inspiration or possibly maybe even a learning visit.

    Local Energy Scotland has established two frameworks to support communities to successful deliver projects and has also established a list of contractors who wish to provide services to CARES supported capital works installations. Information on the Technical Advice Services and the Project Management Support Framework plus the list of contractors can be found here

    There will also be £1 million for capacity building and development support launching later this year to help develop and progress early ideas for new community energy projects.

    Contact Details

    Main weblink We are Local Energy Scotland · Local Energy Scotland from there you can access information on funding streams, resources etc

    Local contact link Find your local contact · Local Energy Scotland

  • Our Community Heat Team volunteers use a handheld thermal camera that can ‘see’ the heat or infrared radiation given off by objects to take thermal images of the inside of your property

    These thermal images can help you locate many sources of heat loss, such as draughts, areas of missing insulation, damp patches, cold bridging from the outside and so on.

    We do not aim to replace professional building surveyors or provide technical advice - but to help make householders aware of how and where their homes might be losing heat and who to speak to about it.

    Support for Households in the West Linton Area:

    The team offer heat surveys in the West Linton Area from October - March. These surveys are free and can be booked on their website! You can book your heat survey here!

    Contact: West Linton & District - Community Heat Team - Heat Surveys - Thermal Action Project

  • Scottish Borders Council can support communities and householders to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and decarbonise their heating.

     

    The council successfully deliver the regional “Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Schemes” which targets properties in or at risk of fuel poverty and promotes the uptake of renewable technologies.

     

    Scottish Borders Council also manages the Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy. The LHEES aims to enable the increase in energy efficiency and decarbonisation of heating for all properties across the Borders. Looking to support individuals, communities, businesses, and places to achieve this.  The council can provide support, expertise, guidance and links with other regional plans and contacts across the council.

     

    The team are Neil Roberton neil.robertson@scotborders.gov.uk and Louise Cox LCox@scotborders.gov.uk

  • Home Energy Scotland supports anyone living in Scotland with free, impartial advice on energy saving, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, cutting water waste and more. Their friendly energy advisors can provide advice and support on how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home to save money on your energy bills. They can also find out if you’re eligible for any financial support to help you with keeping your home warm for less. Home Energy Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Energy Saving Trust.

     

    For support, you can:

     

    Home Energy Scotland also work with community groups that are tackling climate change through local community-led projects where the aim is to reduce energy use and encourage behaviour change within the community. They can help you plan and deliver local energy advice services that engage householders to support uptake of energy saving home improvements, low carbon heating systems and renewable technologies. They can offer project development advice, signpost you to funding, feedback on draft applications, a letter of support where relevant and ongoing partnership. They also support projects that help to tackle fuel poverty and can provide you with access to our secure online referral portal.

     

    Home Energy Scotland can add an extra element to your event or gathering, providing an advice stand, a speaker or an energy advice surgery to help attendees save energy and money.

     

    Find out more about their support for Community Groups at Community groups | Home Energy Scotland or contact the Partnerships Team on partnerships@se.homeenergyscotland.org  

  • South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) supports businesses and enterprising communities throughout Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. SOSE is here to help people and enterprises in the South to thrive, grow and fulfil their best potential.

    Support for Community Energy Projects:

    SOSE’s Energy Transition team are able to provide technical advice and support, as well as signpost to latest funding availability and wider networking opportunities from taking a holistic approach to an energy or place-based related project. It many instances, they will signpost out to Local Energy Scotland, but if you are not sure about the project and need impartial advice, or would value a member of the team speaking with the community prior to looking at national support then do not hesitate to get in touch.

    Wider Support:

    The team also oversee the Net Zero Accelerator Fund, there to support projects to accelerate net zero and maximising the benefit of the South’s natural capital. Outcomes should be focused on the net zero transition: does the project increase the uptake of renewable energy, will generate significant carbon savings, is it replicable or does it tackle a widely felt challenge within region?

    In addition, the SOSE Enterprising Communities team can support project planning and development including advice on community engagement, business planning, organisational capacity building and funding strategies. Our Community Ambition Fund can assist with the capital costs of place-based projects such as community ownership of assets, opportunities for income generation and community energy infrastructure. Our aim is to unlock potential and contribute to ambitions for net zero, fair work, community wealth building and inclusive growth.

    Contact:

    For more information contact: NetZero@sose.scot

  • Sustainable Borders is a community-led project by local charity, Selkirk Regeneration.  We offer free and impartial energy advice to all Scottish Borders households.

    Support for Households:

    Identify ways for you to save energy and save money

    Help with understanding energy bills and tariffs

    Show you how to use your heating controls effectively and efficiently

    Speak to energy suppliers on your behalf

    Provide information on available grants and loans and offer direct referrals onto government approved energy efficiency schemes

    Provide advice on energy efficiency and home renewables

    Install free energy saving measures

    Conduct Energy Assessments by qualified and accredited Domestic Energy Assessors and Retrofit Assessors 

    Activities 

    Energy information events and presentations to local groups

    Smart cooking sessions (for example, air frying cooking classes)

    Advice Centre

    Information hub of our services

    Community collection point for hard to recycle items

    Contact Details

    General enquires: info@sustainableborders.org.uk

    Active travel, events and recycling: claire@sustainableborders.org.uk

    Partnership or presentation requests: angela@sustainableborders.org.uk

    Facebook: Sustainable Selkirk | Selkirk | Facebook

    Our website is currently under design.  www.sustainableborders.org.uk