Tenants are to carry on benefiting from a highly-successful energy advice initiative thanks to three Govan-based housing associations.
Neighbouring housing providers Elderpark, Linthouse and Govan housing associations have secured funding of £293,000 to carry on with their much-valued Energy Advice Service for a further two years.
In addition, the project will add new “smart sensors” which energy advisors will use to analyse data on temperature, energy use, and air quality across a range of property types.
This will enable the advisors to offer more tailored support to households and help the three Associations make smarter, evidence-based investment decisions to boost energy efficiency across their housing stock.
In partnership with the University of Glasgow, the project will also study how fuel poverty impacts health and wellbeing, particularly for tenants with underlying health conditions.
Quarterly surveys will provide essential insights to help inform national policy and shape better-targeted advice and support services. Between them the three associations own and manage over 4000 homes across the local area.
The trio called the cash boost “timely and much welcomed” coming as it does before the winter and in a period of rising fuel bills.
The money has come from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, administered by the Energy Saving Trust.
It marks a major boost for local residents as the service continues to play a vital role in tackling fuel poverty and supporting households through the seemingly never-ending cost-of-living crisis.
Set up in 2021, the Govan Energy Advice Service has supported 1,972 households across the community through workshops, drop-in surgeries, referrals, and home visits — delivering £220,929 in “financial gain” between 2023 and 2025 through fuel debt relief, maximising people’s income and benefit advice.
The service helps residents:
• Understand and reduce their household energy use
• Manage fuel debt and access benefits and payment options
• Improve the energy efficiency of their homes
Aidan McGuinness, Director of Housing and Communities for Elderpark Housing, said “We know only too well how tough things are for many households struggling to heat their homes. This funding allows us to harness cutting-edge technology and help us and our tenants to better understand what works — not just in the wider Govan area, but for communities across Scotland. We’re determined to turn data and insight into real action to help end fuel poverty in our communities.”
Any tenant of the three housing providers can ask for free and confidential help from the energy advice scheme by contacting their respective association.
