Scotland: New Build Heat Standard Consultation

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on its proposed New Build Heat Standard. The Government has proposed that from 1 April 2024 all new buildings applying for a building warrant will only be permitted to use zero direct emissions heating systems.

A zero direct emissions heating system is defined as one by which the building is heated or cooled or by which hot water is made available using thermal energy located within the building or its curtilage and which does not emit greenhouse gases at the point of production. This effectively forbids fossil-fuel and biomass-derived sources of heat.

Implementation will be through buildings regulations and will apply to residential and commercial new build and conversions. This standard will build on the more stringent buildings efficiency requirements, effective from 1 December 2022.