Retrofitting a home means carrying out improvements to improve its energy efficiency, such as installing better insulation and glazing, or installing a renewable energy system like a heat pump.
Homes in Scotland account for around 13% of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Therefore, to meet the target of reducing emissions by 70% by 2030, and the net zero target by 2045, Scotland’s homes will need to become significantly more energy efficient and use zero or almost zero carbon heating sources.
Earlier in the session the Committee held sessions with stakeholders on retrofitting as well as a committee debate in the Chamber.
Details of committee meeting on 30 November 2021
Official Report, Chamber debate, 18 January 2022
The Committee plans to follow this issue throughout the remainder of the session. Of particular concern to the Committee is the lack of urgency in progressing this issue from the Scottish Government.
The Committee has expressed concern about the lack of funding being made available to deliver on retrofitting and the lack of public awareness of what will be required to do so. The Committee is awaiting the second report of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.
The Committee continued this work in April 2024, by jointly holding an event on net zero and Scotland’s housing with the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and the Scotland’s Futures Forum.
A report is available on the event with information on the presentations and discussions that took place.
Scotland’s Housing and Net Zero Conference report
The Committee will pursue this work in the context of its scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s draft Climate Change Plan, Housing to 2040, and other relevant legislation and policies.