New Build Heat Standard 2024: business and regulatory impact assessment

10. Consumer Assessment

10.1 Does the policy affect the quality, availability, or price of any goods or services in a market?

135. Yes, the NBHS will prohibit the installation of direct emissions heating systems in new buildings. As a result, this standard will see a significant increase in the use of ZDEH technologies in new homes and non-domestic buildings.

136. ZDEH systems can provide equivalent levels of comfort and reliability in terms of ensuring new homes are warm and have hot water and, in some cases, ZDEH systems can also bring benefits of being a cooling system too - not just heating.

137. As set out within this BRIA and our Heat in Buildings Strategy, the Scottish Government is taking measures to strengthen supply chains to ensure we have the capacity to deliver at the pace and scale needed, both in terms of these regulations and the larger challenge of transitioning our existing building stock to ZDEH alternatives. We published our Heat in Buildings Supply Chains Delivery Plan (SCDP) in November 2022, setting out the practical steps we are taking to support the growth of the green heat sector.^[126]

138. Ensuring high standards and quality assurance for consumers is at the heart of our approach to supply chain development, and our Heat in Buildings Quality Assurance Policy Statement (QAPS)^[127] outlines the standards required for installers on Scottish Government schemes, along with ways to tackle fraud and mis-selling. This will encourage a greater level of skills and competence in the industry more generally and foster a more secure sector that customers can be confident in.

10.2 Does the policy affect the essential services market, such as energy or water?

139. Yes. As above, the NBHS will prohibit DEH systems in new homes and non-domestic buildings, changing the way we heat our new buildings.

10.3 Does the policy involve storage or increased use of consumer data?

140. No.

10.4 Does the policy increase opportunities for unscrupulous suppliers to target consumers?

141. No. The Quality Assurance Policy Statement (QAPS), mentioned in paragraph 138, includes our approach to protecting consumers and giving them confidence in using suitable installers.

10.5 Does the policy impact the information available to consumers on either goods or services, or their rights in relation to these?

142. No.

10.6 Does the policy affect routes for consumers to seek advice or raise complaints on consumer issues?

143. No.