MORE than 6600 homeowners across Glasgow are to get a Christmas cash windfall - for going green.

MORE than 6600 homeowners across Glasgow are to get a Christmas cash windfall - for going green.

They will receive up to £311 per home from power company Scottish and Southern Energy - with 4456 getting the full amount.

It is being handed out because overcladding insulation work carried out by Glasgow Housing Association has made the houses more energy efficient - and helped the power firm meet its Government targets to cut energy consumption.

GHA provides a factoring service to 26,500 owners through its subsidiary company - GHA Management Ltd - which completed the application process for a grant on behalf of its customers. Homeowners would not have been able to access the grant themselves.

In addition, more than 2000 who received a grant of up to 100% from Glasgow City Council to help towards overcladding costs will receive a proportion of the money.

The exact amount will depend on the administration charge that is levied by the council and the level of grant the owner received.

Jennifer Russell, managing director of GHA Management Ltd, said: "A number of our customers have already enjoyed the many benefits of GHA's overcladding programme, including a reduction in heating bills, improved energy efficiency and increased property value.

"That we have been able to secure this money as a result of their efforts towards helping the environment is great news."

The factoring firm is now passing on the money to all homeowners who qualify for the cash, with those eligible due to receive a cheque over the next few weeks - just in time for Christmas.

Homeowners who have recently moved from their GHAM factored property and not updated their records are being urged to contact the factor immediately (0141 274 6460) to ensure anyone who is eligible for the one-off payment does not miss out.

The criteria set out by Scottish and Southern Energy for the one-off payment includes properties that have been overclad since April 1, 2005, and where work was completed up to March 31 this year.

GHAM is working with the power company to secure a similar deal for owners who have had or who are in the process of having insulated overcladding installed from April 1 this year.

Owners who have not already paid their bill for overcladding will have any grant payment deducted from their outstanding bill.

Sean Clerkin, chairman of the Glasgow Home Owners' Campaign said: "We very much welcome this from GHA. It's a major step in the right direction."