The new Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out the pathway for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from Scotland’s homes and buildings, which currently account for about a fifth of the country’s emissions, by more than two thirds by 2030.
The strategy will require over a million homes and the equivalent of 50,000 non-domestic buildings to convert to zero emissions heat by 2030.
Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie commented: “The ambition set out in our Heat in Buildings Strategy is significant, and rightly so on the eve of COP26 coming to Glasgow. Urgent action is needed if we are to stand a chance of limiting warming to under 1.5 degrees.
“As we take these bold steps to reduce emissions from our homes and buildings, we must do so in a way that leaves no-one behind.
“This Strategy sets out the guiding principles that will ensure our actions to decarbonise heat do not have a detrimental impact on rates of fuel poverty and instead serve to tackle social inequalities.
“This is a huge transition, affecting communities, businesses and households all across Scotland and we must work collaboratively – across public and private sectors, across parliament, and across governments, to deliver it.
“Our Strategy also makes it clear that, to deliver the transformational change required, the UK Government must take urgent action in reserved areas to support the just transition to decarbonised heating.”
The strategy, which updates both the Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map and the Heat Policy Statement, sets out how the Scottish Government will achieve the ambition of transforming the country’s homes and workplaces ‘warmer, greener and more efficient’ over the next 24 years.
Mr Harvie continued: “Our Strategy commits to phasing out the need to install new or replacement fossil fuel boilers, and to consult on introducing new legislation and regulations to underpin this transition and ambitious investment programme, but equivalent action from the UK Government in reserved areas, such as on energy pricing, will be essential to deliver these commitments.
“It is essential that homes and buildings achieve a good standard of energy efficiency and by 2033 we want to see all homes meeting at least an EPC band C standard where feasible and cost-effective.
“This will help ensure energy costs in future are affordable and that our actions continue to remove poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.”
According to the Scottish Government, a new Green Heat Finance Task Force will also be established to identify innovative solutions to maximise private sector investment, and to find new ways to help individuals and organisations spread the upfront cost of investing in making their properties ‘warmer, greener and more energy efficient.’
The Heat in Buildings Strategy can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.
