A HELENSBURGH family have become the first in Scotland to receive innovative new energy efficiency technology in their home as part of a national fuel poverty scheme.
Kathyrn Lamb, a customer of Warmer Homes Scotland, the Scottish Government’s national scheme for improving energy efficiency in homes who are in or at risk of fuel poverty, is the first recipient of the Q-Bot installation of underfloor insulation in her house.
Q-Bot is a unique robot that is controlled via remote control and will be used to insulate the area underneath suspended timber floors, creating a warmer, more comfortable home with fewer draughts, more even temperatures and a reduced risk of damp or mould.
The technology is said to provide an average reduction in heat loss through the floor of 80 per cent and an improvement in air permeability by one third across the whole house, resulting in annual bill savings of as much as £150 and lifetime carbon savings of around 20 tonnes of CO2.
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As the robot is deployed through a small access hatch, the service is less disruptive than any of the established alternatives and results in a typical installation time of just one to two days.
Mrs Lamb said: “I am delighted with the installation.
“When I first heard I qualified for underfloor insulation under the scheme, I was a little worried as I thought that meant there would be a lot of upheaval – how wrong was I?
“The little robot just went under a hatch in the floor and was directed using a controller – very simple and straightforward.
“The house already feels warmer and I am looking forward to a warm and cosy winter.”
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Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “We have made a commitment to eradicate fuel poverty and ensure that every home in Scotland is kept warm and comfortable.
“The Warmer Homes Scotland Programme, delivered by Warmworks, is fundamental to us achieving those targets and I welcome the introduction of the Q-Bot technology.
“Innovative approaches like the Q-Bot will only make it easier for us to continue to help keep people warmer and healthier in their homes.”
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