The New Proposals to Enhance Energy Efficiency

The Scottish Government has released a consultation outlining new proposals to enhance the energy efficiency of all properties in Scotland. We outline the key proposals.

 

The Scottish Government has been working for over a decade to establish a minimum energy efficiency standard for properties in the private rented sector (PRS).

While previous proposals have undergone changes, we can now confirm that the requirement for PRS properties to achieve an EPC rating of C by 2025 and reach the same standard by 2028 is no longer under consideration. This update will be welcomed by those operating in the sector.

However, there have been recent developments. The Scottish Government has released a consultation outlining new proposals to enhance the energy efficiency of all properties in Scotland, including residential and non-residential buildings. Here are the key proposals:

1. Private landlords must adhere to a new minimum energy efficiency standard by the end of 2028, with social housing landlords already obligated to comply with a similar standard.

2. Owner occupiers must meet the same minimum energy efficiency standard by the end of 2033, unless they have discontinued the use of environmentally harmful heating.

3. Prospective property buyers will be prohibited from using environmentally harmful heating within a specific timeframe following the completion of the sale. The exact timeline is yet to be determined but is anticipated to be within 2-5 years.

4. By the end of 2045, all building owners must cease using environmentally harmful heating.

To achieve the proposed minimum energy efficiency standard, the government has identified a prioritised list of measures with the greatest impact and minimal cost and disruption.

This list includes loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, draught-proofing, heating controls, hot water cylinder insulation, and suspended floor insulation.

It does not include more expensive or disruptive measures like solid wall insulation. The government acknowledges that compliance will vary based on each property type.

Regarding polluting heating systems, such as gas boilers, oil boilers, and LPG boilers, they must be replaced with clean heating systems like heat pumps, heat networks, electric storage heaters, and other emission-free electric heating technologies.

Local authorities are required to produce a strategy report by the end of 2023, focusing on areas with high housing density, to identify heat network opportunities that can supply 17-34% of Scotland's heat demand. The prohibition on polluting heating applies only to the main heating system(s) of a property.

The full consultation paper can be accessed here.

The government is inviting views on these proposals, and feedback can be submitted online until March 8th, 2024. You can participate here.