All newly built homes in Scotland will need to conform to an innovative green building standard championed by a Labour MSP, under plans announced by the Scottish Government.

Labour’s Alex Rowley proposed the Domestic Building Environmental Standards (Scotland) Bill at the end of 2022 to introduce the Passivhaus standards for all newly built homes in Scotland.

The Passivhaus standards create ultra-low energy homes which aim to minimise the need to heat and cool buildings.

In a letter to Mr Rowley, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, Patrick Harvie confirmed that the Scottish Government would implement the standards within two years through secondary legislation – without the long process of a member’s Bill passed through Holyrood.

Homes built to Passivhaus level meet high standards of airtightness, insulation and energy efficiency, however the Scottish government has confirmed it is introducing its own ‘Passivhaus equivalent’ rather than using existing Passivhaus certification.

This Scottish equivalent will introduce minimum environmental design standards for new build homes to ensure they have high energy efficiency and thermal performance.

The Scottish government says it will implement the new standards within two years through secondary legislation. Development work will commence early in 2023 before the amendments are bought into regulations by December 2024.

A Passivhaus Trust spokesperson added: “It is fantastic to hear the Scottish government has committed to bringing forward a bill requiring higher energy-efficiency standards in domestic buildings, which also recognises the need to assure occupants that the design and construction of these buildings will deliver the actual performance sought in practice.

“Statements including ‘a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard’ and ‘explicit support for Passivhaus and equivalent standards’ fill us with hope. Now we must ensure that the bill is well developed and implemented to deliver the greatest impact on the actual performance of new homes in Scotland.”

To learn more please visit the Passivhaus website here

Source: The National Scot / www.passivhaustrust.org.uk / homebuilding.co.uk /