Scotland Drops Plans for Mandatory Green Heating Upgrades for New Homes

Green Heating Upgrades

Scotland: The Scottish government has decided to abandon its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill in its current form. The bill, originally drafted as part of the Bute House Agreement, aimed to require homeowners to switch to green heating systems, such as electric heat pumps, within a set timeframe after purchasing a property.

Gillian Martin, the acting net-zero secretary, stated, "I'm going to introduce a Heat in Buildings Bill when I can be satisfied that those interventions within it will decrease fuel poverty at the same time as decarbonising houses." She added that the current draft of the bill did not adequately consider fuel poverty concerns and needed to be revised.

Energy Secretary Mairi McAllan acknowledged in a statement to the Scottish Parliament that the target of cutting emissions by 75% by 2030 was no longer feasible. She emphasized the need for a strategy that balances net-zero goals with economic and social considerations. While the bill could be revisited in the future, significant changes would be required before it is reintroduced.

Source: BBC