Homeowners in Scotland may require extra incentives to make their properties energy efficient if a key Scottish Government target is to be met, a major report has warned. Ministers want all homes north of the Border to reach certain standards by 2040 as part of its ambitious Energy Efficient Scotland (EES) plan. But 1.8 million homes failed to reach the EPC C benchmark in 2016, which the Scottish Government wants all domestic properties to achieve by 2040. This equates to around 66,000 buildings requiring major improvements each year over the next two decades. The report, carried out by KPMG on behalf of the Scottish Government, described this as a “significant challenge”. Just 34 per cent of owner-occupied homes in Scotland were classed EPC C in 2016, while the figure for privately rented properties was 37 per cent.
Scotsman 19th April 2019 read more »
SCOTLAND should set up a new quango to oversee its ambitious plans to fight fuel poverty and make buildings more energy efficient, an official report has suggested. More than £10 billion is due to be spent over the next two decades in a bid to slash the carbon footprint of existing buildings to “near zero” by 2050. Experts insist the move – which will take in £1.56bn in Scottish Government grants – will boost GDP and create up to 6,000 jobs as a result of upgrading works. But with almost two-thirds of homes currently below standard, and huge improvements required in the commercial sector, ministers face a “significant challenge”. Now a new report commissioned by the Scottish Government has suggested creating a non-departmental public body to make sure targets are met. A Government spokeswoman said it was “committed to transforming the energy efficiency of Scotland’s domestic and non-domestic properties”.
Herald 20th April 2019 read more »
