Marking this achevement, minister for zero carbon buildings, Patrick Harvie, and Ross Armstrong, managing director of the scheme’s managing agent, Warmworks Scotland, visited the home of Warmer Homes Scotland’s 25,000th customer.

They heard from the Edinburgh-based customer how a newly-installed renewable form of heating technology – an air source heat pump – is helping them, together with improvements to the insulation in their property, to stay warm in their home, save against their energy bills and improve their home’s energy efficiency.

The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, launched by the Scottish Government in 2015, provides insulation, efficient heating and renewable technologies in the homes of households that struggle with the cost of high energy bills, making homes warmer, more comfortable and more affordable to heat. Last year, the scheme supported almost 3,000 households across all 32 Scottish Local Authority areas to save on average almost £260 against their energy bills.

Additionally, a report from the Social Value Lab launched by Warmworks in November 2021 found that the scheme benefits the health, wellbeing and day-to-day living of the scheme’s customers, with positive outcomes from Warmer Homes Scotland extending through all levels of society – from the scheme’s customer, to the NHS and all the way to the Scottish Government itself.

Partrick Harvie, minister for zero carbon buildings, said: “As the daily costs for many people mount up, it has never been more important to highlight good home insulation and modern climate-friendly heating systems – not just for now but for years ahead as well.

“That is why I am delighted to mark the 25,000th customer of Warmer Homes Scotland today. The Scottish Government has invested more than £166 million in the scheme since its launch in 2015 and we have increased the Warmer Homes Scotland budget this financial year to ensure more support is available during this challenging winter. We have also increased the level of grants so that more high cost measures, such as the installation of air source heat pumps and external wall insulation, can be covered.

“25,000 households is a major landmark so I would like to thank everyone who works on the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme for everything they do ensure people have a safe, warm and environmentally friendly place to call home.”

Ross Armstrong, Warmworks Scotland managing director, added: “I couldn’t be prouder that Warmworks and our network of registered sub-contractors have supported these 25,000 homes to heat their homes more affordably, make savings against their energy bills, and improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

“The biggest reward to being the scheme’s Managing Agent for me is hearing about the difference it makes to our customers’ lives. Many of them regularly tell us about how they previously depended on thick clothing to stay warm at home, or couldn’t put on their heating because they were too worried about the cost of doing so. It gives all of us at Warmworks pride to hear how, after installations made under the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, these same customers tell us how they feel warmer and more comfortable at home, and have been able to make significant savings on what they were previously used to paying for their energy bills.

“This milestone has also been achieved through a strong level of partnership working between Warmworks and the Scottish Government, and our network of registered sub-contractors, who delivery quality for our customers and help make sure that 98% of our work passes an independent inspection at the first time of asking.

“We’re delighted the Scottish Government has increased funding for the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme to £50m this year, and we hope to continue building on the strong foundations we have built through the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme in the years ahead.”