2 days ago
Loco Home helps Glaswegians avoid green energy scams
Loco Home, a membership group with 300 members, wants to make saving energy and reducing emissions from homes easier to understand.
This comes as Consumer Scotland, a national body, calls for action to safeguard consumers from rogue traders.
Kat and Iain Husbands (Image: Supplied) Members of Loco Home, Kat and Iain Husbands, began home improvements in 2022 after joining the group.
They now host regular sessions to share their experiences and offer advice.
Kat said: "We had already switched our electricity to a green supplier.
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"In 2023, we were told our gas boiler was faulty, so that's when we started on this journey."
The Husbands stumbled on Loco Home after chatting with a friend.
They were impressed by the comprehensive advice and guidance the group offers.
Kat said: "Being part of this group has given us confidence and reassurance that we're doing the right thing."
Iain added: "They give you a plan, and you follow it.
"It takes away the worry."
Chris Carus, chief executive officer of Loco Home, who is based in Mount Florida, said: "We have 300 members and growing – and we're about mutual support.
"We host online and in-person ways for people to get in touch with each other, to swap stories, to swap experiences and information."
He said the co-operative aims to provide advice and support for people to save energy regardless of their budget.
He added: "People can come to us for a plan. Based on their circumstances, we will see if they are eligible for any full funding or partial funding for the grants we have in Scotland for heat pumps and insulation.
"And then, according to which path they fit into, they'll get a whole plan."
A YouGov survey by The Climate Coalition found that 57% of Scots would be willing to cut home energy use to help the environment.
However, a report by Consumer Scotland highlighted the need to safeguard the process of adopting green technologies.
Gillian Campbell, director of the Existing Homes Alliance, said: "Retrofit agencies such as Loco Home and Changeworks' EcoCosi, as well as support from Home Energy Scotland, can help protect consumers and ensure the right technologies are being installed in people's homes."
