Tweedsmuir Community heat team

The West Linton Community Heat team and Tweedsmuir Community Council, with support from the Scottish Borders Climate Action Network (SBCAN), have launched an impactful new community heat project in Tweedsmuir. The project, funded by the SSE Clyde Borders Community Fund and Scottish Borders Council, aims to reduce energy costs and promote sustainability in local households.

Conversations with Tweedsmuir Community Council began earlier this year to expand on West Linton’s initial heat team project. The original Community Thermal Action Project, led by Sustainable West Linton & District and funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, provided a thermal camera and training for the West Linton team. Recent funding from the Scottish Borders Council allowed them to purchase additional thermal cameras for more communities to get involved, while support from the SSE Clyde Borders Community Fund has covered crucial training, insurance, and capital costs to extend the project sustainably into Tweedsmuir and surrounding areas.

On 17th October, we held our first event in Tweedsmuir, inviting volunteers to join the Community Heat Team. Volunteers receive training to use thermal cameras to identify household heat loss, conduct surveys, and offer practical, cost-saving tips on energy efficiency. With guidance from Sustainable West Linton, SBCAN, and Home Energy Scotland, volunteers will help residents make affordable, eco-friendly changes like insulation improvements, efficiency tweaks, and renewable energy options. Tweedsmuir community heat team is also working with Broughton and Skirling community councils to extend the project to even more households.

Next steps include volunteers practicing with the cameras in local homes and scheduling training for survey software. This is an excellent opportunity to make a real difference in Tweedsmuir’s energy future!

Interested in Volunteering? Email mark.cullen@me.com or visit www.sbcan.co.uk or www.wlcommunityenergy.org for more information.