Skyrocketing energy prices are crippling many households’ finances, pushing over 200,000 more households in Scotland into fuel poverty. To help tackle this crisis, the Existing Homes Alliance is calling for increased support and new standards to make all of Scotland’s homes warm and affordable to heat.

There’s no question that the most vulnerable need additional cash to help them today. But at the same time, more investment is needed to help householders improve energy efficiency and make the switch to renewable heat. This will provide long-term protection from volatile fossil fuel prices and help them save cash on bills for years to come. Improving homes to an EPC C standard would more than wipe out the current rise in gas prices with a saving of over £500 per year. If all homes EPC band D and below are upgraded, this adds up to just under £500 million in savings per year that can be used to meet other needs such as food and transport costs.

Improving energy efficiency also cuts climate emissions. The Scottish Government has set a target for half of Scotland’s homes to be converted to zero emissions heating by 2030. This means Scotland needs to more than double the rate of home energy upgrades per year, and double year on year the rate of zero emissions heat installations. These are ambitious targets, and so without increased support and new standards setting out exactly what is needed when, we’re unlikely to realise the possible bill savings or emissions cuts.

The Existing Homes Alliance published a new report today: Owning the Future: A framework of regulations for decarbonising owner-occupied homes in Scotland, by Dr Catrin Maby, independent consultant, and Louise Sunderland, of the Regulatory Assistance Project.

The report calls for new standards to be introduced alongside advice, financial incentives, and grants for fuel poor households so everyone can enjoy the benefits of warm homes. It supports the Government’s plans to introduce energy efficiency standards from 2025 and plans to phase out fossil fuel boilers in areas off the gas grid from 2025, and gas boilers from 2030, enabling and encouraging homeowners to install zero emissions heating at the point of boiler replacement. The report recommends easy routes to compliance – such as applying from the point of sale, so costs can be included as part of the transaction. The authors of the report said:

“Well-designed standards for energy efficiency and clean heat in homes can ensure we are all pulling in the same direction on the most efficient path to decarbonisation. This means government support is used most effectively, manufacturers and installers can adapt to deliver appealing offers and households are clear of their role in the transition away from fossil fuels. Regulations alone do not, however, guarantee successful renovations so they must be supported by a robust framework of advice, and practical and financial support.” Louise Sunderland, Senior Adviser, RAP; and

“The best and surest protection against future energy price hikes is to significantly improve the energy efficiency of our homes, and the good news is that this is also what we need to do to mitigate climate change. The Scottish Government is facing up to the challenge of how to achieve this in owner-occupied existing homes, taking this out of the ‘too difficult’ box and working through the detail of how to do it effectively and fairly.” Dr Catrin Maby.

The Alliance is calling for the Scottish Government to introduce standards as soon as possible, to give ample time for planning and investment before coming into effect from 2025. The introduction of standards should be supported with a major programme of advice and generous incentives. Fuel poor households should be fully funded to comply with standards.

Both homeowners and the supply chain want to know what to do and when – a minimum standard of energy efficiency, sufficient to make the home ‘ready for renewable heat’ gives that certainty for planning and investment.

For more information, please see the report and detailed briefing on energy efficiency and the energy crisis.

• Elizabeth Leighton is the director of the Existing Homes Alliance, which is a coalition of housing, environmental, fuel poverty, consumer and industry organisations that believes Scotland’s existing homes must be transformed to help tackle fuel poverty and climate change.

Owning the Future: A framework of regulations for decarbonising owner-occupied homes in Scotland

Doubling Down’ on the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Heat for Scotland’s Homes Offers the Fastest and Simplest Way to Cut Our Reliance on Gas