Scottish Government plans to set energy efficiency standards for private rented and owner occupied homes

The Scottish Government has opened a consultation Energy Efficient Scotland.  The consultation paper proposes dates when energy efficiency standards will be set for private rented sector homes and then for the owner occupied sector.

At present only social landlords have to meet minimum energy efficiency standards – social landlords are making good progress towards the Energy Efficiency Standards for Social Housing (EESSH), which have to be met by 2020.  New, challenging targets are expected to be introduced for social landlords – EESSH2- in May this year, with the targets to me met by 2032.

Energy Efficient Scotland (EES) is a long term programme that aims to help Scotland meet its climate change targets as well as help reduce fuel poverty – a Fuel Poverty Bill is currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament.  Key targets proposed in EES are

• Private rented sector homes targets – energy performance certificate (epc) D by April 2022 and a proposal that homes meet epc C by 2030
• Owner occupied homes – plans for homes to meet epc C by 2040

The consultation also sets out plans for all councils to publish Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies setting out plans to increase the energy efficiency of buildings and increase low carbon heat. Pilot strategies were published by 22 councils in the past year,

The consultation closes on 17th June 2019.