SFHA seeks member input on heat networks and plans for the ‘Scottish equivalent’ to Passivhaus
This will help to inform our policy priorities and any further support needed for the sector.
As discussed at our recent member forums, we are keen to engage with members on both the ongoing review of energy standards and the regulatory regime around heat networks to help ensure your views can be reflected and help to shape the forthcoming changes. We will continue to provide updates via our existing Developing New Homes and Energy and Net Zero forums and would encourage any members who are not yet members of these groups to contact Mhairi Harley (mharley@sfha.co.uk). However, we are interested in hearing from members via other routes as detailed below.
Energy Standards Review
Scottish Government have set up a new Energy Standards Review working group which will help to define what an equivalent to the Passivhaus Standard will look like. SFHA is participating in this group with meetings planned into 2024. We are keen for members to feed into the development of the new standard and will look to host dedicated sessions on this topic as the working group progresses. We are particularly keen to hear from those with direct involvement in Passivhaus projects but are also looking for members to share experiences of their current approaches to energy standards, including experiences of the latest changes to Section 6 of the Building Regulations implemented in February 2023.
Please contact SFHA Policy Lead, Cassandra Dove (cdove@sfha.co.uk) if you are interested in taking part in further discussions on this topic and we will follow up directly.
Heat Networks
With various upcoming changes around the regulation of heat networks, as well as various practical challenges, we also seeking to set up a sub-group of those currently involved in managing heat networks or with experience in connecting their properties to larger schemes. This will help to inform our policy priorities and any further support needed for the sector.
If you would like to be involved, please contact cdove@sfha.co.uk and we will invite you to an initial roundtable meeting with other SFHA members to discuss this in more detail.