The North Howe Transition Toun (NHTT) will send an energy efficiency 'Toolkit' to all homes in the group's area, which takes in Letham, Monimail, Bow of Fife, Collessie, Giffordtown and Charlottetown.

Part of the Carbon Reduction in Buildings (CaRB) project, the 'Toolkit' will include 40 tips to help people save energy and money, and has been drawn up following a survey of residents in the area.

The project is being managed by Tom Morton of Arc Architects, who said: "Rural communities often live in old buildings that can be difficult to improve and are not well matched to the main insulation grant schemes.

"They also rely on non-mains fossil fuels and electricity for heating, which are the most expensive sources of energy and highest sources of carbon emissions.

"If we don't act soon, people in our community will find it increasingly hard to live comfortably in traditional homes."

NHTT's Neil Stoddart said the group — which receives funding from the Climate Challenge Fund in its bid to reduce carbon emissions — had received a "huge" response to its survey.

He added: "Our recent household survey confirmed that 60 per cent of homes in our area were built before 1900 and 70 per cent of people do not have mains gas.

"Reliance on oil, LPG and electricity for heat has contributed to a 30 per cent increase in fuel poverty over the last eight years and makes people very vulnerable to price rises in the next few years."

The 'Toolkit' will be launched at a series of events in village halls across the area.

Read more in the Fife Herald.