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Five housing projects are set to receive a share of £675,000 to improve energy efficiency.

The winners of the Scottish Government's first Energy Efficiency Design Awards will help cut bills for people living in fuel poverty and reduce emissions.

Announcing the successful projects in Kirkcaldy, Macduff, Upper Largo, Skye & Lochalsh and Westray, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said:

"We all need to take steps to cut the energy we use. With the urgent need to reduce emissions and high fuel prices, there has never been a greater need to improve the energy efficiency of our homes.

"Around a quarter of Scotland's properties, particularly older buildings, are classed as 'hard to treat' and the Energy Efficiency Design Awards encourage innovation in designing energy saving solutions for existing homes. The winning projects have all demonstrated a unique approach to make the biggest impact on bills and emissions, taking into account the type and location of the building.

"In Energy Saving Week, it is important to realise we can all do our bit now to stop wasting energy and reduce our emissions - and save some money too."

Hard to treat homes can be, for example, homes with solid walls, no loft space, homes without a gas or oil connection and homes where, for technical or practical reasons, staple energy efficiency measures cannot be fitted. Because of high heating bills, families who would otherwise cope relatively well in a more energy efficient home could find themselves in fuel poverty.

The Energy Efficiency Design Awards is a £1 million fund to bring together designers, construction and manufacturing, housing associations, councils or community groups to create the best energy efficiency solutions for Scotland. The aim is to drive innovation, research and development of new low carbon products and services for the retrofit market, as well as developing skills and capabilities of business and supporting local supply chains.

The second round of the Energy Efficiency Design Awards will open to applications from Monday October 19, 2009 until April next year. This year, applicants may also apply for up to £5,000 for costs of any feasibility studies to undertake for the project. The Energy Saving Trust manage the Design Awards.

17 applications were received this year and the winning projects are:

West Bridge Mill - Kirkcaldy - Link Group Housing Association

This project is in a B listed former rope mill in Kirkcaldy which has been converted in 16 separate flats housing vulnerable young people. The mill has large windows, vaulted ceilings and solid walls. Link Group Housing Association will install more insulation in the voids above the flats and install a combined heat and power system connected to wet radiators, cutting emissions by 65 per cent and reducing fuel costs. Link Group Housing Association have been awarded £103,423.

Moray Street Insulation Project - Macduff - Aberdeenshire Council

The Moray Street Insulation Project in Macduff consists of 20 solid granite flats. Aberdeenshire Council will re-point the buildings, install internal wall insulation, insulate the floors and upgrade the heating systems with energy efficient boilers, resulting in a 40 per cent reduction in emissions. Aberdeenshire Council have been awarded £168,580.

John Wood House - Upper Largo - Kingdom Housing Association

John Wood House in Upper Largo is a B listed former hospital which has been converted into eight flats for social rent. Kingdom Housing Association will install a gas fired district combined heat and power system which will provide warmth and electricity to residents, preserve the character of the building reduce emissions by 70 per cent and cut fuel bills by up to 50 per cent. Kingdom Housing Association have been awarded £99,850.

Hard to treat heating & insulation - Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association

This project covers 14 semi-detached timber framed bungalows on the Isles of Skye and Raasay which are located in extremely exposed, off gas areas. Many of the tenants are in fuel poverty. Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association will install insulated membranes, internal insulating plasterboard, upgrade loft insulation and double glazing and draught proofing. They also plan to install new air source heat pumps and distribution systems and expect this to cut emissions by around 50 per cent and eradicate fuel poverty in these properties. Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association will receive £163,315.

Westray Development Trust - Westray

This project covers nine properties which represent the varied nature of the housing stock on the Island. The residents are all owner occupiers in fuel poverty. Westray Development Trust will insulate the lofts and hot water cylinders in all of the properties as well as draught proof and install ground source heat pumps. They also plan to treat the external walls of the properties with new insulating paint technology. The project will cut emissions by around 70 per cent and expect residents to be lifted out of fuel poverty. Westray Development Trust have been awarded £140,241.

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