Homes that don’t cost the earth

A consultation on Scotland’s sustainable housing strategy

Why a Sustainable Housing Strategy?

• Climate change, Energy Efficiency Action Plan, fuel poverty targets

• Warm homes, lower energy bills, low carbon jobs

• Homes Fit for the 21st Century

• New funding opportunities

Where we are in 2012

• Significant improvements in energy efficiency since 2007

• More than six out of ten homes rated ‘good’ by 2010 – up from 55% in 2009

• 327,400 + free/subsidised loft or cavity wall measures since 2008 (CERT figures)

• More than 700,000 households offered advice and assistance since 2009 (U/HIS)

Our vision for 2030

‘Warm, high quality, affordable, low carbon homes and a housing sector that will help to establish a successful low carbon economy across Scotland’

Sustainable Housing Strategy - themes

• A national retrofit programme

• Standards• Financial market

transformation• New build market

transformation• Skills and training

A national retrofit programme

• A plan to upgrade Scotland’s housing stock, tackle fuel poverty and cut carbon

• An area-based approach to cover all of Scotland in 10 years

• Delivery role for local councils, building on Universal Home Insulation Scheme and making the most of Green Deal and ECO

• Potential investment c.£200m per annum

The role of Standards

• New homes – energy standards, sustainability labelling

• Existing homes (social housing) – new energy efficiency standard

• Existing homes (private sector) – do we need an energy efficiency standard?

• If so what, when and how?

Improving housing quality

• Links between house condition, energy efficiency and fuel poverty

• Do we need a new housing quality standard – beyond the tolerable standard?

• Do the powers in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 need strengthened?

Energy efficiency standard for social housing (EESSH)

• Going beyond the EE element of the SHQS

• Social landlords can lead the way, drive down costs and demonstrate good practice

• In many cases, shouldn’t need significant financial investment beyond that expected for SHQS

Financial market transformation

• We want to see a market premium on warm, high quality, low carbon homes

• Greener homes save money, but the market doesn’t value the income saved or generated

• This in turn affects consumer perceptions

• How we perceive, value and behave in our homes needs to change

New build market transformation

• Growing demand from increasing household numbers = opportunities for investment and innovation

• Projections suggest 450,000 new homes needed by 2033

• Scotland could lead market in new design and construction techniques

• Opening up export opportunities in Europe and beyond

Skills and training

• New jobs in construction and retrofit

• New skill requirements – a flexible and adaptable workforce

• Need to retain specialist, traditional skills for historic properties

Next steps

• Further consultation events

• Consultation closes – 28 September

• Independent analysis of responses

• Further discussion at Sustainable Housing Strategy Group

• Final strategy - around end 2012

sshs@scotland.gsi.gov.ukAll responses welcome !

Closing date : 28 September