Home owners are set to benefit from two energy efficiency schemes provided by Falkirk Council.                                

A rebate of £60 per year will be available for payers of council tax living in private homes as an incentive to make their homes more energy efficient thanks to the Council Tax Energy Efficiency Discount Scheme.

And the Council has successfully secured £370k from the Universal Home Insulation Scheme for better home insulation measures for around 2,000 households in the Larbert and Stenhousemuir areas.

Members at today's Policy and Resources Committee approved both schemes.

Council Leader Craig Martin, Convener of the Policy and Resources Committee said: "Energy prices have recently risen to unprecedented levels and with these schemes will ensure residents will benefit both financially with the rebates as well as managing to reduce their Carbon footprint.

"There are clear benefits from loft insulation and consumers will save money through reduced energy bills by upgrading their existing material."

The Council Tax scheme replaces the ‘Save and Reward' scheme operated by Scottish Gas in partnership with Falkirk Council. Homeowners carrying out home energy efficiency measures will receive a £60 council tax rebate.

4,000 properties in Larbert and Stenhousemuir will be surveyed as part of the  Universal Loft Insulation Scheme by March 2011. This should result in 2,000 households benefitting from free installation of energy efficiency measures.

Both schemes complement a range of other initiatives aimed at encouraging householders to reduce their carbon footprint.

They include:

• Home Insulation Scheme - installs insulation at discounted rates in private sector households, managed by the Energy Savings Trust. The project covers 15,000 households in the Bo'ness and Polmont areas to reduce carbon emission levels
• Energy Assistance Package - a grant scheme which also provides energy advice, benefits checks and insulation measures for homeowners or private sector tenants aged 60 and over who have never had central heating
• Forth Valley Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme - interest free loans to install high efficiency boilers to reduce CO2 emissions.