Energy Standards Review – Scottish Passivhaus Equivalent: Working Group

Overview

In response to Alex Rowley MSP’s Proposed Domestic Building Environmental Standards (Scotland) Bill, in December 2022, the then Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights confirmed that the Scottish Government would make legislation by December 2024 to deliver “a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard”.

To develop proposals, a further review of energy standards within building regulations was initiated at the beginning of 2023. The review will consider standards for both new homes and new non-domestic buildings.

Remit

A working group to support the review was convened in June 2023, with an initial focus on two key outcomes:

• improvements to the setting of energy and environmental (ventilation) performance standards for new buildings, leading to lower energy demand (and reduced running costs) and a healthy indoor environment
• improvements to the design and construction process to give a greater assurance that compliance, and therefore the performance sought, is delivered in practice

The group’s role is to offer advice and expertise to the Scottish Government to help define how a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard will look.

The working group is co-chaired by Stephen Good (Chief Executive of BE-ST) and Stephen Garvin (Head of Building Standards, Scottish Government).

Engagement

Topic workshops in support of the review (hosted by Built Environment – Smarter Transformation).

Consultation

In July 2024, we published a consultation on our initial proposals for a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard. It sought views on the definition, approach and specific aspects of such changes.

The consultation is now closed and views received are being analysed. Once complete, an analysis report will be published.

The results from this consultation will inform relevant changes to regulations to be confirmed in December 2024 and themes for further consultation.

A second consultation on detailed proposals for specific changes to performance targets and supporting compliance processes will be launched in summer 2025.

Implementation

An implementation date will be confirmed prior to laying of amending regulations in December 2024. Following Ministerial agreement, the July 2024 consultation includes the proposal to mandate the standard in 2028, introducing changes initially as a voluntary standard from 2026. It is the intent that changes to published guidance and approved calculation tools for the confirmed new standard will be made available in 2026.

Related groups

• Building and Fire Safety: Ministerial Working Group

Members

• Building Research Establishment
• Built Environment – Smarter Transformation
• Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists
• Chartered Institute of Building
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
• Construction Products Association
• Construction Scotland
• Federation of Master Builders
• Homes for Scotland
• Local Authority Building Standards Scotland
• Offsite Solutions Scotland
• Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Rural and Islands Housing Association Forum
• Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
• Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
• Scottish Futures Trust
• Scottish Power Energy Networks
• Scottish Property Federation
• Structural Timber Association
• The Building Alliance
• The Passivhaus Trust
• The University of Edinburgh
• The University of Strathclyde
• Wheatley Group
• Health and Safety Executive
• observers from the UK and devolved administrations
• Scottish Government officials

Publications

Energy Standards Review – Scottish Passivhaus Equivalent: Working Group - terms of reference