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The Existing Homes Alliance | Scotland

campaigning for the transformation of Scotland's existing housing stock

The right frame of mind: Engagement for domestic energy efficiency in Scotland

13 June 2019

This report explores the need for new engagement strategies with homeowners to encourage uptake of energy efficiency measures.

While Scotland’s housing has improved in terms of energy performance, progress is slowing, as many of the easy measures have already been done. And the research suggests that communications that concentrate on small changes can send people into a ‘cul-de-sac’, where they believe they have ‘done their bit’.

The report concludes that framing home energy efficiency as a moral issue may present a way to avoid the ‘cul-de-sac’ and reduce barriers to carrying out the energy efficiency measures we need to meet more ambitous climate targets. This is not to say that appeals to ‘comfort’ or ‘saving money’ should be abandoned, but that they perhaps should be made after a clear moral case for change has first been set out.

Right Frame_EXHA_FINAL_Jan2019_

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.

Recent Updates

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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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