Plea for extra £137m to help make more homes in Scotland energy efficient

A CHARITY has urged the Scottish Government to boost funding to help make homes more energy efficient to £256 million a year.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) said this would be a vital step towards meeting the Government’s climate change targets of net zero emissions by 2045.

It said 13 per cent of Scotland’s carbon emissions come from homes.

To reduce that, the Government’s target is to raise the energy performance of all homes in Scotland to at least a C rating – and a B rating for all social housing – by 2040.

Research by CAS estimates the combined total investment required by the Government, homeowners and private landlords is likely to be at least £11 billion over the next 20 years, or £550 million a year.

The charity believes the Scottish Government’s contribution towards this cost should be at least £256m per year, more than doubling its current £119m a year budget.

CAS spokesman Dr Jamie Stewart said: “We support bold targets on climate change but we want to ensure the cost of meeting those targets does not fall on those least able to pay.

“That’s why increasing the funding for energy efficiency will help make Scotland’s homes easier to heat and reduce emissions at the same time – it’s win-win.

“We welcome the Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland programme because it offers a long-term commitment to address a systemic problem over the next 20 years.

“But despite energy efficiency being designated as a National Infrastructure Priority four years ago, the amount of central funding available has remained the same.

“Improving energy efficiency of our homes is key to Scotland becoming net-zero but it is vital the public, and specifically those who are fuel poor, aren’t hit the hardest by the drives to meet climate targets.”

An energy performance certificate is used to rate a property based on its energy efficiency, from A (the most efficient) to G (least efficient).

Currently, just half of Scottish housing stock is rated C or higher and there are estimated to be 1.42 million properties rated D or below.

CAS said the first aim when it comes to decarbonising heat must be to improve the energy efficiency of homes to lower fuel usage in the first place.

Secondary to this is considering low-carbon heating options, such as heat pumps, to replace traditional fossil fuel heating systems such as gas and oil.

The Scottish Government said a new, legally binding standard for home energy efficiency from 2024 onwards is being proposed to help tackle climate change.

It is launching a consultation seeking views from homeowners on what this standard may look like, and how they can help people meet it.

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.”