New Build Heat Standard - scoping consultation: analysis

Introduction

Background

1. Scotland has one of the most ambitious climate targets in the world, with its Climate Change Bill^[4] setting out a legally binding target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2045, and with an interim statutory reduction of 75% by 2030.

2. The Scottish Government published a scoping consultation seeking views on a proposed New Build Heat Standard (NBHS)^[5], which would mean that all new build homes given consent from 2024 must have a heating system that produces zero direct greenhouse gas emissions at the point of use. The scoping consultation closed at the beginning of March 2021. Four consultation workshops were also held with key stakeholders (Business/ Industry, Consumers, Island Communities and Non-Domestic Buildings).

Respondent Profile

3. In total, there were 92 responses to the consultation, of which 83 were from organisations and 9 from individuals. Respondents were assigned to respondent groupings in order to enable analysis of any differences or commonalities across or within the various different types of organisations and individuals that responded. Table 1 above shows the number of respondents in each organisational category.

4. A list of all those organisations that submitted a response to the consultation and agreed to have their name published is included in Appendix 1.

Methodology

5. Responses to the consultation were submitted using the Scottish Government consultation platform Citizen Space or by email. The findings from the four consultation events have been incorporated into this report at the relevant questions. In most instances, issues raised in workshop events mirrored those raised by individuals and organisations who responded to the consultation.

6. It should be borne in mind that the number responding at each question is not always the same as the number presented in the respondent group table. This is because not all respondents addressed all questions. This report indicates the number of respondents who commented at each question.

7. Some of the consultation questions were closed with specific options to choose from. Where respondents did not follow the questions but mentioned clearly within their text that they supported one of the options, these have been included in the relevant counts.

8. The researchers examined all comments made by respondents and noted the range of issues mentioned in responses, including reasons for opinions, specific examples or explanations, alternative suggestions or other comments. Grouping these issues together into similar themes allowed the researchers to identify whether any particular theme was specific to any particular respondent group or groups.

9. When considering group differences however, it must also be recognised that where a specific opinion has been identified in relation to a particular group or groups, this does not indicate that other groups did not share this opinion, but rather that they simply did not comment on that particular point.

10. While the consultation gave all who wished to comment an opportunity to do so, given the self-selecting nature of this type of exercise, any figures quoted here cannot be extrapolated to a wider population outwith the respondent sample.