Heating and cooling our homes and businesses costs £2.6 billion a year and accounts for approximately half of Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions.
Challenging weather, poor energy efficiency in the home and reduced heating options (especially in rural areas) as well as high energy prices can make fuel bills unaffordable, resulting in fuel poverty.
Energy efficiency has been designated a national priority. It is key to meeting our ambitious climate change and fuel poverty targets.
Actions
Cost of living crisis: find out what help is available
We are:
- driving forward strategic actions to address fuel poverty
- helping householders make energy-saving home improvements
- consulting on future milestones for energy efficiency in social housing
- introducing minimum standards for energy efficiency in private rented housing
- consulting on proposals to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes
- delivering the Heat in Buildings programme to improve energy efficiency across Scotland and support all buildings to achieve a good energy efficiency rating over the next 11 years
- committed to supporting the national public energy agency
Background
It's important that the buildings we live in can be kept cool enough in summer and warm enough in winter. But many of the energy sources used to power Scotland's homes are a limited resource, and for lots of people, keeping their home warm enough costs more than they can afford.
We believe that everyone should be able to live in a warm and affordable home, and have committed to working with homeowners, landlords and tenants to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.
By using more efficient, low-carbon sources of heating and making sure that buildings are properly insulated, the energy used to heat or cool our homes stays inside. This means more comfortable homes and less energy wasted for everyone. We are particularly keen to make sure that people who need their heating most aren't worried about turning it on because they can't afford their bills.
Scotland’s Heat in buildings strategy sets out our vision for warm, high quality, low-carbon homes and a route map for how we will achieve it.
Contact
Email: Central Enquiries Unit ceu@gov.scot
Telephone: 0131 244 5528
Post:
Scottish Government
Housing and Social Justice Directorate
Atlantic Quay
150 Broomielaw
Glasgow G2 8LU