Today the Scottish Government has published a consultation on a proposed New Build Heat Standard, which would require all heating systems in new build homes given consent to from 2024 to produce no direct greenhouse gas emissions.
The Scottish Government intends to phase in a similar approach for new non-domestic buildings from 2024.
Emissions from buildings are responsible for approximately 20% of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart commented on the consultation: “The pace of decarbonising Scotland’s domestic and non-domestic buildings has to increase significantly to achieve our targets on climate change.
“The New Build Heat Standard will be an important contribution to this to ensure emissions from heating and cooling our buildings fall close to zero.
“We want to combine the action we need to meet the challenge of the climate emergency with our ambition to provide affordable, warm homes.
“We are seeking views from stakeholders on the most effective way to introduce this Standard to ensure it is deliverable and fit for purpose.”
The consultation sets out a range of outcomes for the standard to achieve, including ensuring new homes and non-residential buildings are affordable to heat, supporting the delivery of a continued supply of high-quality homes, and offer opportunities for retraining and upskilling workers to install zero emissions heating systems.
The Scottish Government is also seeking evidence on technologies that could produce zero direct emissions, or very nearly zero direct emissions.
To support the development of the New Build Heat Standard, an external working group was established to provide advice and expertise to the Scottish Government.
The group, which features representation across a wide variety of interests and areas, is co-chaired by Professor Lynne Sullivan OBE.
Professor Sullivan commented on the consultation: “We recognised the priority for new buildings to achieve higher efficiency and be ready for zero emissions heating sources, in line with Scotland’s world-leading climate commitments.
“We welcome the consultation on new homes, and believe the targets are achievable with existing technologies at scale. Delivery will unlock long-term economic benefits as well as future-proof Scottish homes.”
More information about this consultation, which is open until 3 March 2021, is available on the Scottish Government website.
