Scottish House Condition Survey: Local Authority Analysis 2017-2019

Heating and Insulation

Installing or upgrading insulation is one of the most effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of a building. On average across 2017-2019, 59% of walls (of all types) were insulated^[1] in Scotland although this ranged from 46% in Aberdeen City and Moray to 77% in Clackmannanshire (Figure 1). 14% of dwellings in East Dunbartonshire had less than 100mm of loft insulation compared to 6% on average and just 1% in Stirling, Falkirk and the Shetland Islands (Figure 2).

The heating system is another key factor in the thermal efficiency of a dwelling. Almost all households in Scotland (96%) have a full central heating system. However, this rate is lower for Shetland Islands (80%), Orkney Islands (86%), Na h-Eileanan Siar (88%), Highland (89%), Perth and Kinross (91%), Dundee City (91%) and Argyll and Bute (92%).

Note: In this chart, the proportion of dwellings with insulated walls for Scotland as a whole is a three-year average. This is different to the proportion published in the main SHCS Key Findings report, which is an annual figure.

Note: In this chart, the proportion of dwellings with less than 100mm loft insulation for Scotland as a whole is a three-year average. This is different to the proportion published in the main SHCS Key Findings report, which is an annual figure.