About the LHEES

Scoltand's Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy work (LHEES) sets out an ambitious, long-term plan for improving energy efficiency and decarbonising heat in buildings across South Ayrshire. In other words, our aim is to help make homes and businesses more affordable to heat and better for the environment.

You can watch our series of videos explaining the LHEES in more detail :

But what does that mean in practice?

Improving energy efficiency is the focus of this first phase of the LHEES work, with the objective of improving the fabric of homes and businesses.

These changes can reduce energy bills, increase comfort in the home, and save money.

This work could include:

• Providing advice on the best insulation measures for your home, including information on costs and savings
• Directing you to available funding and grants

What about changes in heating?

The way we heat our buildings at the moment is damaging to the environment and often very expensive.

Rates of fuel poverty in Scotland have risen significantly since the energy crisis, and although energy prices are reducing marginally, it is not enough to allow everyone to live in a comfortable and warm home.

The causes and impacts of fuel poverty are wide ranging, but expensive heating types and poor energy efficiency are two of the major contributors. 

Our current energy model simply is not working for everyone.

The LHEES is the first step in a move towards a fairer, greener system that ensures affordable, clean, and sustainable heat for everyone.

What is decarbonised heat?

Decarbonisation means moving away from harmful fossil fuels like oil and gas, to cleaner and more efficient sources. This can include heat pumps, high efficiency electric heating, and heat networks.

These changes help reduce our impact on climate change while buildings a more resilient energy system for everyone in Scotland.

These changes are significant in both scale and cost, and although work is underway in the Council's own estate, large scale roll out to the public requires legislative and funding support nationally.  

What are Heat Networks?

Heat Networks are major pieces of infrastructure that generate heat at one location and send this out to buildings through underground pipes.

These can be significantly more efficient and cost-effective that individual heating systems where conditions are right.

Within the LHEES we have identified 4 potential heat network zones in South Ayrshire. These are areas where we believe a heat network would be viable due to the density of buildings and demand for heat.

Scottish Government are finalising legislation on heat networking which will support further feasibility work in this area.

Next steps

The LHEES is a first step towards a larger energy transition, and ultimately a work in progress that will evolve over time.

We are developing a series of videos to help you learn more about the LHEES work, energy transition, and what this means for you.

We will publish periodic update here, and you can follow us on social media for more information.