Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH): guidance for social landlords (revised February 2019)

1 Purpose and Background

1.1 The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) aims to encourage landlords to improve the energy efficiency of social housing in Scotland. This supports the Scottish Government's vision of warm, high quality, affordable, low carbon homes and a housing sector that helps to establish a successful low carbon economy across Scotland.

1.2 The EESSH will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020, and 80% by 2050, in line with the requirements set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. A new Climate Change Bill was introduced to Parliament on 23 May 2018. The Bill amends the 2009 Act and will immediately increase the 2050 target to 90% by 2050, which the UK Committee on Climate Change states is currently "at the limit of feasibility".^[1]

1.3 The EESSH was introduced in March 2014 and set a first milestone for social landlords to meet for social rented homes by 31 December 2020. The EESSH is a crucial part of Energy Efficient Scotland, which is the cornerstone of delivering the Scottish Government's designation of energy efficiency as a National Infrastructure Priority and sets out a 15-20 year programme that will significantly improve the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions of our homes and buildings.^[2] The EESSH should also be considered within the wider context of our Energy Strategy, which looks at meeting the country's energy needs over the next 20-50 years.^[3]

1.4 When EESSH was introduced, a review was proposed for 2017 to assess progress towards the 2020 target and to consider future milestones beyond 2020. To deliver this, the EESSH Review Group was set up in March 2017, including representatives from the Scottish Government, Local Authorities, Registered Social Landlords, Historic Environment Scotland, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and the Scottish Housing Regulator.

1.5 The Review has been delivered in two phases: phase 1 of the Review, which was completed in October 2017, assessed progress towards the 2020 target. One of the actions agreed by the Review Group was that the guidance for landlords should be consolidated and revised.

1.6 Phase 2 of the Review has considered EESSH milestones and activity post-2020. During 2018, the Scottish Government consulted on proposals for the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing post-2020 (EESSH2). An analysis of responses is available online. The Review Group will consider the responses, with a view to making a recommendation to Scottish Ministers in 2019.^[4]

1.7 This guidance brings together and revises previous guidance issued by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Housing Regulator has separately issued EESSH Technical Guidance for Landlords, and this is available on the Regulator's website.^[5]

1.8 The Scottish Government has set up an online EESSH forum through Knowledge Hub to flag issues and share ideas regarding the guidance and EESSH more generally.^6] This forum is open to any social landlord, and can be joined on application through the Scottish Government or via the Knowledge Hub website.