Net zero heating and energy efficiency standards - phase 3 and 4: qualitative research

Appendix D Phase 4 discussion guide

1. Introduction (0 - 10 mins) (10 mins)

Welcome and thank you for agreeing to participate — [moderator introduction, housekeeping: WC, fire alarm and finishing time].

As we explained in the pre-task information, we are working with the Energy Saving Trust to undertake some research for the Scottish Government on homeowners’ attitudes to net zero heating and energy efficiency standards.

This stage of research with homeowners consists of four phases; the first three were completed between June and December 2022, and we are currently in the final phase phase. This phase aims to build on and challenge some of the themes developed in the first three phases while exploring some new ideas with you.

Explain teams group/viewing facility set up - recorded, confidentiality, honest feedback, no right or wrong answers – interested in your personal opinion and what’s really important to you as a homeowner.

Introductions: To get the ball rolling, we would like to have a round of introductions – please can you tell me your name, the type of property you currently own and perhaps one thing you’ve done or thought about doing to become more ‘energy efficient’ at home?

2. Net Zero & The Customer Journey (10 – 15 mins) (5 mins)

Objective: To explore homeowners’ understanding of net zero and their willingness to play a role in meeting Scottish Government’s net zero commitments. (option: to explore where homeowners feel they are on their personal journey to net zero and how manageable/feasible this journey feels).

Net Zero

Before this session, we shared with you a brief description of the Scottish Government’s aims and two videos explaining what ‘net zero’ means, how we can get there and information about air source heat pumps as an example of a technology that can help in this transition.

5. Is net zero a concept you were familiar with before watching the video?

6. How realistic does Net Zero this feel to you just now?

7. Introducing the scenarios (15 mins – 35 mins) (20 mins)

Objective: To consolidate and build on learnings from phase 1, 2 and 3. Scenarios to be presented together to give the audience an overview of each scenario.

To deliver the net zero target, the Scottish Government is considering bringing in new regulations that require homeowners to improve the energy efficiency levels of their homes and replace their gas boilers or other fossil-fuel heating systems with zero emissions heating systems like heat pumps.

As part of the process of developing the new regulations, the Scottish Government is considering lots of different options. In the first three phases of this research we have looked in detail at three scenarios, however, for this phase we only look at one of the scenarios.

Introduce scenario (Scot Gov to provide examples of potential backstop dates)

One of the ways this could be achieved is by phasing in backstop dates. A backstop date is a date by which the homeowner would need to have upgraded their home. Groups of homeowners could be grouped together to take action by a set date.

1. How do you feel about the scenario overall?

• Probe understanding & relative appeal.

2. Do you think this scenario would be a fair approach?

• Probe is it ‘fairest’ because it aligns with their own interests/circumstances or ‘fairest’ for society overall?

3. How would you feel is this scenario came in to place tomorrow?

• Explore ability to pay and how this makes them feel

Introduce phasing (Scot Gov to provide information on phasing options council tax etc.)

One option is to group homeowners by council tax banding. This would mean that, for example, homes in council tax band H could have an earlier backstop date to homes in council tax band A. We know that typically homes in higher council tax bandings emit more emissions.

1. How do you feel about the idea of phasing the scenarios with council tax bands?

• Probe on how this would affect them and how they see this working.

2. Are there any other scenarios or ways of phasing the introduction of the requirements you think could be considered or would be a ‘fairer’ option? Fairer for whom, and in what way?

{ Moderator note: for this phase SG are keen to hear about the fairness in detail – please probe around this if time allows}

Thinking about the idea of a backstop date. How much advance notice would you expect to get regarding the date?

4. Potential future support (35 mins – 1h 10 mins) (35 mins)

Objective: Provide initial insights regarding domestic property owners’ views on the design of potential future support (financial and/or non-financial) that will be necessary to help them make the changes required by the new proposed standards.

Moderator to say: We are keen to explore your attitudes, expectations and needs in relation to making the transition and what support might be needed for this.

8. What does the term ‘support’ mean to you when you think about these changes?

• Probe on emotional, financial and practical support

9. What type of help/support do you expect you would need to meet the proposed standards?

• Probe on knowledge/understanding of changes to be made and the financial, or other types of implication of the regulations (e.g. home disruption, journey and steps to take from EE retrofit through to HP installation etc.).
• Probe on what people think might concern them most when it came to undertaking the changes required in their own situation – explore, understanding why and what they think could help them a) prepare in advance, and b) take action when the time comes.

10. What would you consider to be ‘fair and just’ in terms of support provision? And how best this might be targeted?

• Probe on different vulnerabilities
• Probe on how people conceive of “(in)ability to pay” in the context of heat transition and changes required.

We would now like to consider the journey you would go on if you had to now go and make these changed to your home.

1. Firstly, where do you imagine you would find out about these regulations?

• Where would you expect information to come from?
• Where would you not expect to be told about it?

2. Now, given everything we have discussed today, where would you look in the first instance after finding out about these regulations?

• How do you think you would find out about what needs done in your home? And how would you explore the possible measures?
• Where would you look to seek advice/support to undertake the changes?
• Why? Probe on why for each response given.
• Is there anyone you would not go to/would not trust? Why?

3. Finally, now that you know more about the regulations and what you will need to do in your home, where would you go in order to activate this and make the changes?

• What, if any, support do you think you will need once you have undertaken the necessary retrofit works?
  • Probe on how this should be delivered and by who.

Given everything we’ve just discussed, I am now going to show you what the current offer of Scottish Government support looks like for people to undertake these changes.

Show available support from Home Energy Scotland (clarify this is the current support and this may change over time)

Reflecting on what we have talked about already today:

4. What are your views on the support available currently from Home Energy Scotland?

• Do you think this support is enough?
• What more support would you expect?
• Is this who you would expect to see support from?

5. Public engagement (1h 10 mins – 1h 25 mins) (15 mins)

Objectives: To understand the public views on how best they can raise awareness and educate on the heat transition (through which channels, tactics, target audiences etc,)

4. In this section we are going to use our imagination…I want you to imagine these regulations are taking place in the next few years and you need to start making changes to your homes, how would you expect the Scottish government to raise awareness of these regulations?

• Probe channels used. Social media platforms, news, press etc.
• Probe on tactics – what is the best method of communicating these changes?
• Probe target audience – who needs to be targeted in which way?
  • Probe on different methods for different people/audience groups

5. How do you think the Scottish government, and partners, can best educate people on the heat transition?

• Is the Scottish government best suited to educate people on this?
  • If no, who?

6. What role do you see the Scottish Government having in increasing awareness and understanding of the changes that a move to renewable heating will involve for property owners?

• Who else do you think should play an active role in awareness raising, and why?
• Moderators note: SG are keen to find balance in discussion so not all geared towards what should (only) SG be doing in this space.

6. FAQ section (1h 25 mins – 1h 30 mins) (5 mins)

Objectives: To understand the initial questions that the audience have at this stage, this will help to build out a FAQ section and allow for ‘real’ questions to be answered

In this section I want you to imagine you have just heard about these regulations, either through word of mouth or the news etc. I want you to put yourself in this mindset and tell me your immediate questions, what is top of mind and worrying you?

Allow the respondents to quick fire questions, these can be things which have been discussed already within the group. Remind them that there are no silly questions!