Equity loan scheme - call for evidence: consultation

Ministerial Foreword

Reducing emissions from our homes and buildings is one of the most important things we can all do to help end Scotland's contribution to climate change. Over the next 24 years, we will need to transform Scotland's homes and workplaces so that they are warmer, greener and more efficient.

We published the draft Heat in Buildings Strategy in February this year and it sets out how we will achieve that ambition through actions and proposals for transforming our buildings and the systems that supply their heat, ensuring all buildings reach net zero emissions by 2045. We need to rapidly scale up deployment of zero emissions heating systems, such as heat pumps and heat networks, as well as improve energy efficiency for all domestic homes.

We have committed to tackling housing's contribution to climate change in in Housing to 2040; Scotland's first ever long-term national housing strategy. This sets out our commitment to support people to live in homes they want to live in and which are affordable and meet their needs through adapting and retrofitting existing homes to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise heating.

This call for evidence seeks views on the potential future development of the Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan Pilot to support the realisation of these ambitions, offering homeowners a potential finance route to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and decarbonise their heating in an affordable way.

Your views and evidence will help the Scottish Government to consider the challenges and opportunities. We have posed questions throughout the document and encourage you to respond.

I very much look forward to hearing your views.

Michael Matheson MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Net-Zero, Energy and Transport