Heat in Buildings: progress report 2023

The regulatory framework

Regulating to improve zero emission heat and energy efficiency

This year, Parliament has passed the New Build Heat Standard – a critical step towards decarbonising our buildings and reaching net zero. The New Build Heat Standard means that no new buildings constructed under a building warrant applied for from 1 April 2024 will be built with direct emissions heating systems, like gas and oil boilers.

The regulations, laid in June 2023, represent a significant development in the transition to clean heat, ensuring that new buildings are future-proofed with no need for owners to undertake retrofit works.

The introduction of these regulations will build upon the recent uplift in energy standards in Scotland and complement the incoming Passivhaus equivalent standard which will ensure new buildings have the highest level of energy efficiency – reducing the overall heat demand in new homes and removing poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.  

We know that a regulated system for existing buildings is critical to drive the changes needed to meet our climate targets. We will therefore consult shortly on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, a commitment made in the Programme for Government 2023-24. This consultation will include options on the best approach to phasing in regulation to drive better energy efficiency standards and transition Scotland’s existing buildings to clean heating systems by 2045. 

(A ‘clean heating system’ refers to a ‘zero direct emissions heating system’. These systems – such as heat pumps and heat networks – do not produce any greenhouse gas emissions at the point of use. Modern, efficient electric storage heaters can also perform the same role, as can electric boilers, and other direct electric heating technologies.)

Social housing standards

The social housing sector has been leading the way on energy efficiency in recent years and is well placed to show leadership now on the transition to net zero. The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) was established to help remove poor energy efficiency as a driver for fuel poverty and contribute to achieving the Scottish Government’s ambitious climate change emissions reductions targets.

In the past year we have worked closely with the sector to review these targets and to bring them into line with net zero. The review has made good progress and the Scottish Government is planning to consult this year on proposals for an amended standard.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)

We are proposing that EPCs provide more and better information in advance of setting any regulatory standards to meet our net zero emissions targets. Following our first consultation on reforming EPCs in 2021, we completed a second consultation on the finalised proposals on 16 October.

Following this consultation, we intend to introduce revised Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations to the Scottish Parliament in 2024, subject to the necessary legislative vehicle being in place. This would mean that revised EPCs come into force shortly after.