This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Energy efficiency of Scotland's housing stock
20/12/2006
The latest statistics on energy efficiency in the Scottish housing stock are published today.
The report presents an analysis of the energy efficiency of occupied dwellings, and potential levels of emissions of carbon dioxide, sulphurous oxides and nitrogen oxides.
The headline figures for the improvements in energy efficiency of the Scottish housing stock have previously been published in March 2006.
Some of the main findings are:
Energy Efficiency
- The energy efficiency of the Scottish housing stock has improved considerably from 2002 to 2003-04, with 40 per cent of dwellings rated 'good' on the National Home Energy Rating (NHER) scale in 2003-04, compared to 31 per cent in 2002
- The proportion rated 'poor' has fallen over the same period from eight per cent of the occupied stock to six per cent
- Social rented accommodation has a better average rating than owner-occupied or private rented accommodation
- 71 per cent of dwellings built since 1982 achieved a 'good' rating
- Almost half of dwellings with gas central heating achieved a 'good' rating, compared to just over a quarter with electric central heating and three to four per cent of dwellings with other forms of heating
Emissions of carbon dioxide
- The actual change in carbon dioxide emissions from domestic fuel use cannot be calculated from the Scottish House Condition Survey. However, a theoretical model is applied to gauge carbon dioxide emissions, and shows that improvements in energy efficiency and the use of cleaner fuels has allowed a 12 per cent fall in the total carbon dioxide emissions from domestic fuel use, with all other factors remaining constant
- An average of four to five tonnes per year of carbon dioxide was released from accommodation rented in the social sector, compared to 8 tonnes per year from owner-occupied housing and that rented in the private sector
- Detached dwellings and older dwellings emit much higher quantities of carbon dioxide than other types of dwelling. Flats produce on average less than half the emissions of detached houses
Emissions of sulphurous oxides
- Emissions of sulphurous oxides, which are significant agents in the production of acid rain, are highest from private rented dwellings, detached dwellings and older dwellings
- Households in dwellings with gas central heating produce on average less than a quarter of the emissions of sulphurous oxides of households with electric central heating
Emissions of nitrogen oxides
- Emissions of nitrogen oxides, a group of gases which contribute to air pollution, are again highest from private rented and owner-occupied accommodation, detached homes and older housing
- Households with gas central heating systems produce on average about a third of the emissions of nitrogen oxides of households with electric central heating
Background:
The Scottish House Condition Survey is a sample survey, and therefore all figures are estimates rather than precise counts due to sampling variability. In the year from October 2003 to September 2004, for which the statistics are quoted, interviews were conducted were conducted with almost 4,000 households, around 3,000 of which were followed up with a physical survey of the dwelling. The overall response rate to the survey was about 60 per cent.
Headline figures for changes in energy efficiency in 2003-04 were published in the Scottish House Condition Survey 2003-04 in March 2006.
Today's publication provides a more detailed analysis of the energy efficiency of the Scottish housing stock and also provides information about the associated modelled level of emissions of carbon dioxide, sulphurous oxides and nitrogen oxides.
The model for calculating emissions is based on the theoretical energy use to maintain a standard heating regime for a standard level of occupancy, derived from knowledge of the appliances, fuel source, insulation, size and dwelling type of the premises. It includes energy usage for space and water heating, lighting and domestic appliances, and takes account of local climate variations. It does not take account of actual fuel use.