SCOTLAND’S largest trading body says a minimum standards of competence for installers needs to be set to implement new heating standards.
SELECT’S warnings came in response to the Scottish Government’s consultation into proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill.
This bill plans to introduce a law requiring homeowners to ensure their homes meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2033.
The electrical association “agrees in general” with the proposal to prohibit the use of polluting heating systems in all buildings by 2045.
However, they also say the government should take care to make sure that vulnerable people aren’t take advantage of and that the increased cost of energy be taken into consideration.
SELECT said: “We have seen several government projects run into problems as they often leave the door open for unscrupulous traders, who take advantage of the government’s own messaging, as a way of convincing people that work is required when often it is not.
“It is also vital that the Scottish Government legislates to ensure installations are only undertaken by properly qualified, trained and competent persons. This is as important as any other measure.”
The body also warns that poorer households may take “sticking plaster actions”, taking the easier solution instead of the best, as they are less likely to install new low-carbon heating technologies due to their signifcant cost to install.
One part of the bill suggested by the Scottish Government is that those purchasing a home or business premises are required to end their use of polluting heating systems within a fixed period of time following the completion of the sale.
SELECT has said that this requirement will penalise people in older properties, as well as people who are less able to pay for measures such as the elderly or disabled people. Instead, they recommend a five year grace period after a property purchase.
Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, said: “In this consultation, we are suggesting that while we support the general aim to move towards net zero, we must be careful about the danger of unintended consequences.
“Owners of properties that may find it difficult to improve their energy efficiency, particularly in buildings in areas where there are constraints to the electricity network, may be forced to install systems that are expensive or unsuitable to run.
“I know a number of local authorities that are already divesting themselves of building assets that will need considerable sums spent on them. This is already having an unintended consequence of depriving areas of meeting and events halls.”
The new law will also require private landlords to meet the minimum energy efficency standard by 2028.
SELECT recommends that properties should be considered compliant once they have installed the measures “appropriate” for the building type and bio energy should be permitted in buildings already using it.
