Two-thirds of homes miss out on energy efficiency

ALMOST two-thirds (62 per cent) of Scotland’s homes fall below the preferred energy efficiency standard – increasing the risk of deaths and ill-health associated with cold t emp er at u r e s , housing campaigners have warned.

Almost 1.5 million homes in Scotland fall below the energy performance certificate band C recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Existing Homes Alliance has found.

The Alliance, whose members include WWF Scotland, Changeworks and the National Insulation Association, called for a political commitment to raise all homes to at least band B.

Chair Alan Ferguson said: “These figures show that if the next Scottish government set an objective to bring all homes in Scotland to at least a C energy performance standard by 2025, they could end the scourge of cold homes currently affecting thousands of households in every parliamentary constituency.

“More than 50 businesses and civil society organisations welcomed the crossparty commitment to making improved energy efficiency for Scotland’s homes a national inf rastr ucture priority.”

Dr Sam Gardner, head of policy at WWF Scotland said: “Heating Scotland’s buildings accounts for over half of our climate change emissions.

“Ensuring every home reaches a C energy performance standard by 2025 is the minimum level of ambition required to meet our climate change targets.

“A political commitment that no-one should live in a draughty home would be good for millions of households, and drastically reduce emissions too.”