The Scottish government has launched a consultation on a proposed new energy efficiency standard for homes across Scotland.

The proposed standard will be legally binding and will come into effect from 2024, with the aim of reducing fuel poverty in Scotland and ameliorating the effects of climate change. Privately and social rented homes in Scotland are already subject to legal standards of energy efficiency; and the proposal would bring the 62% of homes in the country which are owner-occupied in line with the existing regulations. The government is now soliciting responses from Scottish homeowners, with a view to determining the best ways to devise a standard covering privately owned accommodation, as well as ways in which the government itself can support homeowners in meeting the new standard.

Responses to the consultation will inform future developments within the Energy Efficient Scotland programme, which builds on existing schemes and regulations to improve energy efficiency and address the ongoing issue of fuel poverty for homes, businesses and publicly owned buildings. The programme also oversees the work of local authorities in developing and implementing Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “We are facing a global climate emergency and for our part, the Scottish government is doing all we can to tackle climate change. That is why we are supporting homeowners to make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat. Social landlords are already making excellent progress towards their energy efficiency target; and with this standard, we will help homeowners to do the same. By the end of 2021, we will have allocated more than £1bn [€1.18bn] since 2009 to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency to make homes warmer and cheaper to heat.”

The energy efficiency consultation is open to input from homeowners living in Scotland and will accept responses until 26 March 2020.