Concerns over Scotland's Passivhaus pipeline

Scotland has pledged to be net zero by 2045 – five years earlier than England – with both City of Edinburgh Council and Glasgow City Council aiming to be net zero by 2030. It also hopes to take one million homes off the gas grid with alternative energy sources such as electric heat pumps by 2030. However, planning guidance for new developments to comprise at least 25% of social housing and the introduction of Passivhaus energy standards by the end of 2024 have caused concerns. The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations said Passivhaus would result in higher building and maintenance costs and that supply chain capacity is insufficient to deliver these homes at scale. While it supports the country’s ambitious net-zero targets, it is worried about the practicalities of achieving them.

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