This shoddy wee story is being headlined and linked to a Scottish Government funding scheme in a deliberately misleading way.
Here is what the funding scheme offers:
Improvements you could get funding for includes:
https://www.mygov.scot/energy-saving-grants
- boilers and heating systems
- draught proofing
- insulation including:
- cavity wall
- floor
- solid wall
- roof
- solar panels and other renewable energy
- windows – to replace single glazing but not double glazing
This funding scheme does not tell you which to choose nor which is suitable for your home.
Far less, should you choose to cavity wall insulation, it does not tell you which form to use. There are several types including beads and granules, foam and mineral wool. See:
The Scottish Government scheme does not restrict your choice. You should speak to an engineer or an architect or a contractor who will advise you on having cavity wall insulation in the first place and, if you go ahead, which type is best for your home.
If you have problems after insulation, the responsibility lies with the professionals and not the scheme subsidising your costs.
If the work was done by a local authority before you bought the house or flat, at well below the market price no doubt, there should have been an inspection identifying the problem and recommending that you not buy it, no matter how cheap. If the inspection report missed the problem, go back to the company which did the inpsection.
None of the roads lead back to the Scottish Government.
Talking-up Scotland 
I wonder how many times the “Scottish Government” was mentioned in that BBC Scotland piece 🙂
On a more practical level, some vents in those windows would certainly help to enable a permanent circulation of fresh air. From the outside view of the block of flats, it looks like you have to physically open them to get some fresh air through.
LikeLiked by 3 people
“I wonder how many times the “Scottish Government” was mentioned in that BBC Scotland piece 🙂”
6 times
LikeLiked by 1 person
Having been puzzled earlier by Indyref Two posting a Youtube R4 clip from August 2014 on cavity wall insulation https://youtu.be/okRf6jbDhZA, it was only on checking what propaganda HMS James Cook was promoting that the penny finally dropped.
It is still in prime slot on the Scotland page at 15 hours old, so they’re either hopeful of exploiting it further (Disclosure ?) or driving something else off the page…
Chris Clements hinting at responsibility for the current SG for what Carillion did in 2011 is to say the least “creative”…
The R4 piece from 2014, albeit long, is infinitely more informative.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What has BBC Scotland journalism, become? How much further will BBC Scotland journalists stoop?
This on the day when the BBC on Radio 4 reminded us of the ethical basis of journalism as expressed by Woodward and Bernstein of Watergate fame:
– striving for the best attainable truth of a news story!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I had applied for this many years ago , the ‘surveyor’ who visited examined all areas of the house came to ask me questions of the fabric of build.
On telling him we had partial timber and brick cavity wall he said we could not
Have cavity wall of any DESCRIPTION.
We were only given loft insulation and all doors draft excluders.
Poss heat source heating was possible, on asking details I was informed all floors ans carpets would need taken up pipes run in every room in house.
We decided it was far to much upheaval and the heat generated would not be efficient due to walls not being properly insulated.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cavity insulation has it’s place, but building science has also moved on especially in Europe where solid walls are mandated for earthquake codes.
The “Baumit” system is polystyrene slab with mesh/cement painted finish applied on the exterior – My 2013 house was done this way from new, and aside the occasional ding in the stucco needing a patch, it’s stood up well.
– My youngest daughter benefited from Baumit one of the last EU-funded retrofit projects on (1930s ?) terraced apartments in Dundee (Block with cavity then lath/plaster) – Her gas bill plummeted and damp in the cavity disappeared.
LikeLike
Like you we looked into installing a heat pump system and like you we decided it was not worth the hassle. Basically we would have had to RIP the house apart to install the pipes. Even one of the companies we got to inspect our house said they would not touch it.
Our current solid fuel system – 40 yrs old – needs replaced so think we are going for an electric boiler plus install a storage battery connected to our solar panels.
LikeLike
If you were thinking on underfloor heating from a heatpump, that would be understandable devastation, but it may be worth getting a second opinion on using rads.
A lot of the tech has moved on – Have been watching a polish lad’s Youtube installations with air sourced heat pumps turning out with some surprising results in winter – Only the radiators needing uprated on some older minimal insulated properties, I think in England.
LikeLike
THIS LAMONT. CHARACTER HAS GOT TO BE A LABOUR WALLEE
THE GOVERNMENT DO VISIT ANY HOUSES
ITS A “SURVEYOR” WHO VISITS TO SEE IF EACH INDIVIDUAL HOME
IS SUITABLE
I WOULD RECKON 50% WILL NOT TAKE UP THIS OFFER
AS THE DISRUPTION IS MASSIVE.
TO GET ‘FULL’ BENEFIT ALL HEATING HAS TO BE CHANGED TO HEAT SOURCE
Means ripping up all floors new rads large boiler inside a cupboard
And heat pump cabinet outside with pipes through wall.
The Main ECO RULE IS A Draught TEST to ensure the HOUSE IS SEALED
I GAVE UP.
LikeLike
WTF are you on about, I’ve never voted other than SNP.
I’m a retired engineer with an abiding interest in energy conservation, so have been following heat pump development with interest.
eg – I bought a 2013 house with minimum insulation, traditional gas boiler and radiators, nothing unusual here, then embarked on a 5 year project in 2017 to improve energy efficiency.
– Total energy consumption was halved in year one purely by simple insulation.
– The more disruptive insulation was done in stages, with the final phase to be completed this autumn.
– Even with recent energy price hikes having jacked the bills, my total for gas and electricity for 2021-2022 still came in under 820 quid, 2023 is on target to be slightly less, but 2024 will definitely be lower.
Should my boiler need replaced, a heat pump is entirely viable IF it can stand -16 winters – Only the rads will probably need uprating, but as they’re not fed by microbore, the existing pipes are quite sufficient.
Every place is different, it needn’t be disruptive by default.
LikeLike
Why is this character get paid PUBLIC MONEY
to openly lie about TRUE FACTS
DOES HE THINK PEOPLE ARE AS STUPID AND GULLIBLE AS HE OBVIOUSLY IS
LikeLike
🙄
LikeLike
All I can say is that there must be a shit storm coming on the old UK gov green deal, not the new one, but the initial one which was a disaster for many houdeholds in Scotland. This included a 25yr debt being placed on properties and the power companies and anonymous investors raking in additional profits. Cladding was included but no certification was supplied as per council requirements leaving many unable to sell their homes due to the debt and lack of documentation. The UK gov of course sat on its hands and Ofcom were of course useless. The last I heard there were test cases being prepared after some serious breaches such as an 80 or 90 yr old man being signed up to 25 yrs of debt.
LikeLike