Straight answers about energy and funding
Your renewable energy questions, answered.
Could your group get CARES funding? Would a heat pump suit your home? Is solar worth considering for your roof? Find clear answers here, then ask FLO for a free survey to see what works for your property.
50 articles found
Is the CARES Community Buildings Fund open in 2026?
The fund is open, but that does not guarantee a grant. See what your group can check and prepare before it applies.
Read the articleHeat pumps02Can a heat pump work in an older Scottish home?
Older stone homes are not automatically ruled out. Find out what Historic Environment Scotland says and what needs checking in your own house.
Read the articleSolar & battery03Do solar panels work in Scotland's weather?
Solar panels use daylight, not heat. See how your roof, shade and electricity use affect the amount you could save.
Read the articleAir conditioning04Can air conditioning heat your property as well as cool it?
Some air-conditioning units can warm rooms too. See what they can replace, what they cannot and how hot water is handled.
Read the articleCommercial05Check your business energy use before buying new equipment
Your bills show what you spend. Opening hours and meter readings show when you use the energy, which helps you choose the right upgrade.
Read the articleProject planning06Do heat pumps or solar panels need planning permission in Scotland?
Some installations need no planning application, but that depends on your property, the equipment and where it goes.
Read the articleCARES07What does the CARES £80,000 grant cover—and what does it not cover?
See how the £80,000 limit works, what your group may need to pay and which costs might fall outside the grant.
Read the articleHeat pumps08Will a heat pump keep your home warm in a Scottish winter?
Ask whether the proposed heat pump can heat every room on a cold day, not just how efficient it looks over a year.
Read the articleSolar & battery09Is your roof suitable for solar panels?
A roof can look ideal in a photo and still need repairs, structural checks or a better cable route.
Read the articleAir conditioning10Why is one room in your office hotter than the others?
Windows, people, computers and fresh air all affect cooling. A floor-area estimate alone can miss the real problem.
Read the articleCommercial11When does your business use the most electricity?
Half-hourly readings can show when solar power would be used, when it might be exported and whether a battery would help.
Read the articleProject planning12Can a listed building have heat pumps or solar panels?
Historic status does not automatically rule out renewables, but the building's fabric and permission requirements shape what can be fitted.
Read the articleCARES13How will your group pay its share of a CARES project?
Work out where your contribution will come from and when you will need the money, including costs CARES will not cover.
Read the articleHeat pumps14What does heat-pump flow temperature mean for your home?
The water temperature affects running costs and how well your radiators heat each room. See what to ask your installer.
Read the articleSolar & battery15What size solar battery would suit your property?
The right size depends on how much spare solar power you produce and when you use electricity after dark.
Read the articleAir conditioning16How do you keep a server room cool around the clock?
A server room needs cooling even when the office is closed. Plan for constant heat, alarms and what happens if a unit stops.
Read the articleCommercial17Can your site's electricity connection handle new renewables?
Heat pumps and chargers need power coming in; solar may send it out. Check both before committing to a design.
Read the articleProject planning18What does MCS certification tell you about an installer?
MCS certification is worth checking, but it cannot tell you whether a particular design or quote suits your property.
Read the articleCARES19Could your group and building qualify for CARES?
Check whether your group, its building and the work you have in mind could meet the current CARES rules before paying for a detailed design.
Read the articleHeat pumps20Why does a heat-pump survey check each room?
Your installer needs to know how much heat each room loses to choose the right pump, radiators and water temperature.
Read the articleSolar & battery21Is it better to use your solar power or sell it to the grid?
Power you use at home can save a different amount from power you export. See how to compare both in a solar estimate.
Read the articleAir conditioning22Where does the water from an air conditioner go?
Cooling produces water. Its drain needs a safe route before you settle on where to put the indoor unit.
Read the articleCommercial23Who pays for and benefits from renewables in a rented building?
Agree who can use the roof, who owns the equipment and who gets the bill savings before you spend money on a design.
Read the articleProject planning24What should happen after your renewable system is installed?
Get the instructions, certificates and monitoring access you need, then check how the system performs through its first year.
Read the articleCARES25How can you show CARES that your building is used by the community?
Use bookings, opening hours and local activities to show how often people use your building and who benefits.
Read the articleHeat pumps26Will every radiator need replacing for a heat pump?
Some radiators may work as they are; others may need changing. A room-by-room check should show you which and why.
Read the articleSolar & battery27Will you get paid for exporting solar electricity?
Export payments are not automatic. Check what your system needs, what suppliers pay and the terms of their offers.
Read the articleAir conditioning28Do you need one air-conditioning unit or several?
Compare room use, pipe routes and what happens if a shared outdoor unit fails before choosing a layout.
Read the articleCommercial29Can your Scottish business get help paying for energy upgrades?
Check which improvements the current SME scheme supports and what must happen before you pay a deposit or start work.
Read the articleCARES30Can your group get CARES funding if it leases the building?
Check the lease or ownership papers early, so a missing right or permission does not hold up your project later.
Read the articleHeat pumps31How much might a heat pump cost to run?
No one can promise an exact bill. See which assumptions matter in a running-cost estimate and how to compare it with your current heating.
Read the articleSolar & battery32Does your solar installation need grid approval first?
Some systems can be notified after installation; others need approval first. The inverter and existing equipment affect which route applies.
Read the articleAir conditioning33What maintenance does business air conditioning need?
A service, refrigerant leak checks and energy inspections are different things. Find out which apply to your system.
Read the articleCommercial34Which energy upgrades should your business do first?
Plan heating, solar, batteries and future electrical loads together, even if you install them in stages.
Read the articleCARES35Could CARES help improve heating in your church or faith building?
See how your building's community use, heating pattern and historic features affect the options worth considering.
Read the articleHeat pumps36Will you need a new hot-water cylinder with a heat pump?
Check how much hot water your household uses, how quickly it needs replenishing and where a cylinder would fit.
Read the articleSolar & battery37What should your business check before installing rooftop solar?
A large roof is a starting point. Check its condition, who controls it and whether your electricity connection can handle the system.
Read the articleCARES38What should your village hall tell installers before asking for quotes?
Bring together your bills, bookings and heating problems so every installer starts with the same picture of your hall.
Read the articleHeat pumps39Will a heat pump be too noisy or need planning permission?
The unit's position matters as much as its noise rating. Check the site and current Scottish planning rules before choosing a location.
Read the articleSolar & battery40Can solar panels run a heat pump through winter?
Solar can help with annual electricity use, but your heat pump needs most power when winter daylight is shortest.
Read the articleCARES41Could CARES help cut your sports club's energy costs?
Show when your club needs heating, showers and floodlights so a proposed system fits the way it is used.
Read the articleHeat pumps42Can your electrical supply support a heat pump?
Your heat pump will share power with everything else in the property. Find out what needs checking before the system is chosen.
Read the articleSolar & battery43Buying a home with solar panels? Check these documents first
Find out who owns the panels and ask for their certificates, warranties, export details and performance records.
Read the articleCARES44Do you need an independent adviser for a CARES application?
An adviser and an installer do different jobs. See when each can help your group choose and price the right work.
Read the articleHeat pumps45How do you compare two heat-pump quotes fairly?
Look beyond the headline price. Check what each installer measured, what work is included and what happens after installation.
Read the articleCARES46What should an installer include in a CARES quote?
Check that the quote covers the whole job, not just the equipment, so your group knows what it would pay for.
Read the articleCARES47How do you choose an installer for a CARES-funded project?
Check MCS certification, but compare the full design, price and support before your group chooses an installer.
Read the articleCARES48Should a CARES project include a heat pump, solar panels and a battery?
A heat pump, solar panels and a battery do different jobs. Check whether your building needs each one.
Read the articleCARES49Can your CARES project meet its funding deadline?
Allow time for surveys, quotes, permissions, installation and the documents needed to claim the grant.
Read the articleCARES50What can your group do while it waits for a CARES decision?
Gather the useful information now, but be careful about deposits and orders that depend on a grant.
Read the articleTalk to FLO
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