Trade News
February 21st 2020
The Scottish Government has recently announced plans to impose new heating regulations which will help tackle the ‘climate emergency’.
In the new plans, newly constructed homes post 2024 will use either renewable or low-carbon heating systems following a recent investment of £30M into renewable heating projects by the Scottish Government.
Scotland’s Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse has stated that the change in heating regulations was part of Scotland’s plan to tackle climate change in a bid to reach ‘net zero emissions by 2045’. Reaching a ‘net’ zero involves greenhouse gases, such as CO2, being avoided entirely or offset in another way; such as planting trees.
In a bid to reach these targets, Scotland is trying to enforce new initiatives which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and the new heating regulations should assist with this. Low-carbon heating generally refers to systems which use heat pumps or other alternatives to a gas boiler. There are many heating solutions which do not use gas; such as electric heating but they are not standard in new homes.
New Regulations Standard in New Homes
The new regulations will ensure they are standard in new homes. The plans also state that renewable and low-carbon systems will be phased in for new non-domestic buildings from 2024. In addition to the amendments in these new regulations, the Government is also looking to review they energy standards in building regulations. This is to improve the energy efficiency of buildings; mainly focusing on how they retain their heat as well as how they generate heat.
It has been announced that central heating systems in homes are threatening the UK’s clean air goals. Many don’t consider pollution coming from home heating to be a problem, but with a target to become carbon neutral by 2050 this needs to be considered. Scottish plans to ensure all new homes have renewable or low-carbon heating systems is a step in the right direction but it is important to consider the ways in which older homes can become more energy efficient also.
Ways to Improve your Homes Energy Efficiency
So, if you currently live in an older home or are generally searching for ways to make your home more energy efficient, what changes can you make? There are actually a few which are fairly easy to do, but let’s take a closer look.
These are our top tips for improving your homes energy efficiency:
Whilst some of the changes you can make may be a little pricier, such as upgrading your boiler, it will save you money on your bills in the long run. However if you’re not in a position to make these bigger changes, smaller things such as turning appliances off and insulating walls.
Lauren works in our Ecommerce Team, with over 6 years of experience at HSS. She brings product knowledge and is able to give her advice on the right tool for the job no matter how big or small.
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