Views sought from people in Highlands on cleaner heating systems
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Members of the public across the north are being invited to share their views on proposals for cleaner heating systems in Scottish homes and workplaces.
An online event on Wednesday, February 21, will focus on the Scottish Government’s consultation on a Heat in Buildings Bill.
The Highlands and Islands Climate Hub is inviting people in the Highlands, Orkney and Shetland to join in.
Hub manager Joan Lawrie, from Thurso, said: "The discussion will be online and is an opportunity to learn more about the consultation, and to ask questions about key policy proposals it covers.
"Like many other countries, Scotland has a legal target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The way we heat our homes, workplaces and other buildings is the third-largest cause of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland.
"There is no way to meet our legal obligation to reach net-zero without changing the heating systems in the vast majority of our buildings. The Heat in Buildings Bill will introduce new standards around the heating systems that can be used in homes and places of work.
"The consultation describes the proposals for how owners and landlords of domestic and non-domestic buildings can meet this standard – either through installing a number of simple insulation and draught-proofing measures, where those are possible, or by meeting a certain level of heat demand."
Ms Lawrie added: "The intention of this community discussion is not to understand how many participants are for or against the proposals, or to delve into the more technical aspects of the consultation.
"There is the opportunity to respond individually to the consultation in detail on the Scottish Government’s consultation hub, Citizen Space, and it is open for responses to this consultation by March 8."
The event, which starts at 7pm, can be booked via Eventbrite.
Under legislation to be introduced in 2025, which will start taking effect later in the decade, those buying new homes or buildings would be asked to move to a “clean” heating system, such as a heat pump or connection to a heat network, within a fixed period of time following that purchase.
Minimum energy-efficiency standards for Scotland’s homes could be introduced to make them warmer and less expensive to heat, according to the Scottish Government.
Outlining the proposals in November, zero-carbon buildings minister Patrick Harvie said: “There will be no ‘one size fits all’ approach to what we’re proposing – we recognise that different types of buildings in different areas need different solutions – but we are giving certainty to households to plan and clarity for businesses to invest, with a pathway which recognises the cost pressures that so many of us are currently facing."
