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The Existing Homes Alliance | Scotland

campaigning for the transformation of Scotland's existing housing stock

Response to Ministerial Statement on Energy Efficient Scotland 22 Nov 2018

4 December 2018

We welcome the continuing debate in the Scottish Parliament to secure an ambitious and successful Energy Efficient Scotland Programme. This briefing sets out our response to the Minister’s statement on Energy Efficient Scotland, particularly on the issues of the Long Term Domestic Standard and future legislation.

The Scottish Government has taken some positive steps on regulation and they’ve acknowledged the need to consider an accelerated long-term domestic standard. A ‘suite of legislation’ is promised, but as yet there are no details on what the legislation will include. Thus, there are some good commitments, but it is concerning that we seem to be in a preparatory phase in many areas – despite the fact that the National Infrastructure Priority was established in 2015.

We will work closely with the parliament and stakeholders – particularly with industry and delivery agents – to make the case for a long-term standard of EPC band C – where feasible and appropriate – in the forthcoming consultation.

Meanwhile, it is essential that we avoid further delay and make use of the Fuel Poverty Bill and Climate Change Bill to put in place the necessary statutory framework for Energy Efficient Scotland. The twin imperatives of climate change and fuel poverty demand action now.

Read the full briefing: EES_brief_27Nov2018EXHA_FINAL

Filed Under: Policy

10 Key Recommendations

1 The Energy Efficient Scotland Programme, the cornerstone of the National Infrastructure Priority for energy efficiency, should have a statutory underpinning, including a target for the vast majority of housing (where technically feasible and appropriate) to reach the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2030.

2 The introduction of new regulation and planning controls, backed by market incentives, to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes.

3 Scotland-wide area-based schemes to deliver retrofit of existing homes, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, street by street, alongside a national, demand led programme.

4 A range of financial incentives to encourage investment in energy efficiency and micro-generation.

5 New service offerings, products and packages for retrofit.

6 Better information on household energy use and its carbon emissions for consumers.

7 Better energy performance data on existing housing.

8 Reliable quality control and up-skilling on low and zero-carbon technologies.

9 A major programme to catalogue and showcase existing and ongoing exemplar low energy refurbishments.

10 Maximise use of devolved powers and influence UK policy to improve energy efficiency.

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About us

The Existing Homes Alliance Scotland is a coalition calling for urgent action to transform Scotland's existing housing stock and make it fit for the 21st century. Too many of Scotland's homes are in a poor condition meaning unnecessarily high fuel use.

We gratefully acknowledge funding support from the William Grant Foundation.

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Join our campaign to ensure there are no households in Scotland living in a hard-to-heat, draughty home by 2030. We urge the Scottish Government to use the once in a generation opportunity of the Energy Efficient Scotland programme and the Fuel Poverty Bill to transform Scotland’s homes for the better, put an end to fuel poverty and seize the opportunities of a low carbon future.

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