Heat in Buildings: progress report 2024

Ministerial foreword

Tackling the climate crisis is among the greatest challenges of our generation. To meet this challenge we need to reduce the emissions we produce, including those that come from heating our homes, schools and places of work.

We have already made significant progress on our journey to net zero, and in reducing the emissions from our buildings. Across all sectors, between 1990 and 2022, there was a 50 per cent reduction in estimated net emissions. Over the same period, emissions from Buildings fell by 32 per cent. However, we know that the biggest challenges still lie ahead. Recent years have seen people across Scotland face high energy costs and a continued cost of living crisis, as well as increasing pressure on public finances.

These challenges can, and must, be overcome. We know that switching to clean heating systems not only reduces emissions from our buildings, but it also makes us less dependent on volatile and increasingly expensive fossil fuels, like oil and gas. Improving energy efficiency also plays a role in moving us towards net zero, while potentially reducing energy bills and improving the warmth and comfort of our homes.

This report provides important information on the progress we have made against our Heat in Buildings Strategy. Setting out this progress in a clear and meaningful way, including demonstrating how our delivery schemes and programmes are working to meet our goal of reaching net zero, is vital to the accountability of government.

This report shows that Scotland’s overall carbon emissions have fallen, as have those coming directly from our buildings. The energy efficiency of our homes has increased across all tenures and more heat pumps are being installed than ever before.

The Scottish Government provided over £210 million of funding through our delivery schemes in the last financial year (2023-24).

Our next step will be to set out the long-term direction of travel and provide certainty to both homeowners and the supply chain. We consulted recently on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. We are completing our consideration of the responses to this consultation, and aim to confirm next steps shortly.

Meanwhile, our New Build Heat Standard (NBHS) came into force earlier this year and is already ensuring that new homes and buildings will have the climate-friendly heating systems that will become the norm in the years ahead. We are now reviewing the standard to ensure it fully reflects the ongoing role of wood burning stoves and bioenergy systems, which many in our rural communities rely on for warmth and comfort.

The climate crisis is likely the defining challenge of our time. Taking action to remove emissions from our buildings will play a key role in meeting this challenge, and in ensuring our homes are warm, comfortable and more affordable to heat.

Alasdair Allan MSP