COMMUNITIES in Cumnock and Doon Valley will soon save energy thanks to an £11million funding boost.

Phase two of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) will enable local authorities to improve energy efficiency.

An original pilot fund allocated £9million to projects across 11 areas and is now being rolled out nationwide.

The second wave of SEEP will help local authorities test new and innovative energy-saving approaches.

These will be taken forward when the programme is rolled out fully in 2018, once the Scotland Bill brings further devolution of energy efficiency legislative powers.

Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP, Jeane Freeman, has urged East Ayrshire Council to apply for a share of the fund to deliver energy efficiency improvements to homes, businesses, public buildings and community projects.

She said: “The Scottish Government’s £11m funding pot to help improve energy efficiency in homes, businesses and public buildings in Scotland is a great opportunity for local communities, supporting local projects that build on the successful work already carried out and ensuring Scotland leads the way in energy efficiency.

“I am calling on East Ayrshire Council to submit proposals on how they’d use this funding to help meet local energy needs more efficiently and at a lower cost, whilst also helping tackle climate change.

“The SNP Government has delivered almost one million energy efficiency measures to almost one million Scottish households since 2008 and invested more than £650million over the last eight years.

“I’d encourage as many communities as possible to come up with their own proposals to make use of this vital funding to help transform energy efficiency in their area.”

SEEP is being developed to deliver the new national infrastructure priority for energy efficiency throughout the country.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We are now inviting local authorities and/or their partners to submit new proposals for SEEP pilot projects for delivery by 28 February 2019.

"This second phase of pilot projects will further help the development of SEEP, contribute to the design of future programmes aimed at tackling fuel poverty and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and inform how future SEEP funding is best deployed to achieve ministerial objectives."

Among the targets being set are the provision of low carbon heat, improving hard-to-heat properties such as old buildings and introduce local strategies.