Key Indicators & Decisions (KI&Ds) – United Kingdom – Scotland – 2020

01.01

Definition of public buildings (according to article 9 b)

Not available

Transposition of Article 9 in respect of new buildings is achieved by setting minimum energy performance requirements in building regulations. Requirements for new non-domestic buildings do not differentiate between new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities and other new buildings.

01.02

Definition of public buildings used by the public (according to article 13)

The calculated energy EPC required on construction, sale or rental is also displayed in “public buildings”. The requirement applies to:

• Buildings occupied by public authorities with a floor area >250 m² and frequently visited by members of the public. Qualifying occupiers must obtain and display an EPC.
• Other non‐domestic buildings with a floor area >250 m² and frequently visited by members of the public. Qualifying occupiers must display the EPC only if they have one.

No definition in legislation. However, the criteria of qualifying buildings are identified in guidance clause 6.9.3 of standard 6.9 ‘Energy Performance Certificates’ within the Scottish Non-domestic Technical Handbook.

Further information available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2019-non-domestic/6-energy/6-9-energy-performance-certificates/

01.03

Number of residential buildings

2.6 million* homes in Scotland (estimated)

(*) Housing Statistics 2019: Key Trends Summary, Scottish Government, September 2019.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-scotland-2019-key-trends-summary/

01.04

Number of non-residential buildings

196,000* non-domestic buildings in Scotland (estimated)

(*) Scotland's non-domestic energy efficiency baseline: report, Scottish Government, December 2018.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-non-domestic-energy-efficiency-baseline/

01.05

If possible, share of public buildings included in the number given in 01.04

Not available

Recorded data do not differentiate between buildings occupied by public authorities and other buildings.

01.06

If possible, share of commercial buildings included in the number given in 01.04

Retail and financial premises account for 32% of the 196,000 non-domestic buildings outlined in 01.04*. This is approximately 62,000 premises. A further breakdown of these figures is not available.

(*) Scotland's non-domestic energy efficiency baseline: report, Scottish Government, December 2018.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-non-domestic-energy-efficiency-baseline/

01.07

Number of buildings constructed per year (estimate)

Domestic: See 01.08

Non-domestic: See 01.09

01.08

If possible, share of residential buildings constructed per year (estimate, included in the number given in 01.07)

New domestic building completions (Scotland)*:

2016-2017: 17,201

2017-2018: 17,623

2018-2019: 21,292

(*) Housing Statistics for Scotland 2019: Key Trends Summary, Scottish Government, September 2019.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-scotland-2019-key-trends-summary/

01.09

If possible, share of non-residential buildings constructed per year (estimate, included in the number given in 01.07)

New non-domestic building completions (Scotland):

2019: 211

2018: 438

2017: 324

Statistical data is not published, but has been derived from EPC dataset published at:

https://statistics.gov.scot/data/non-domestic-energy-performance-certificates

01.10

Useful floor area of buildings constructed per year in million square meters (estimate)

New domestic building completions (Scotland):

2019: 2.3

2018: 1.9

2017: 1.5

New non-domestic building completions (Scotland):

2019: 0.69

2018: 0.76

2017: 0.73

Statistical data is not published but has been derived from EPC datasets published at:

Domestic:

https://statistics.gov.scot/data/domestic-energy-performance-certificates

Non-domestic:

https://statistics.gov.scot/data/non-domestic-energy-performance-certificates

02.01

Are building codes set as overall value, primary energy, environment (CO₂), reference building or other

New buildings must meet a performance target set as greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂).

Targets are defined by applying a published guidance to calculate CO₂ emissions for a ‘notional building’ which the actual building must not exceed.

The current 2020/21 review will introduce a primary energy target as the principal compliance metric.

Individual elements within a new building must also meet minimum performance standards. This provision covers all building fabric elements and technical building systems installed.

Domestic buildings: Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: domestic. Scottish Government, September 2019. Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2019-domestic/

Non-domestic buildings: Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: non-domestic. Scottish Government, September 2019. Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2019-non-domestic/

02.02

Requirements for energy performance of residential buildings in current building code

Technical Handbooks support the implementation of Building Regulations energy requirements and set out ten criteria for new domestic and non‐domestic buildings.

1. Ensure the Building CO₂ Emission Rate (BER) is no greater than the Target Emission Rate (TER). TER is set using a notional building specification which includes a low carbon equipment element e.g. photovoltaic panels.
2. Reduce heat losses through the envelope (including minimum fabric performance, thermal bridging and air permeability). Scottish Accredited Construction Details for linear thermal bridging are available and airtightness testing is generally required.
3. Energy efficient space heating and hot water systems, including controls, minimum performance, etc.
4. Minimum insulation levels for pipes, ducts and vessels.
5. Energy efficient lighting (e.g. minimum 60 lamp lumens/circuit‐watt in offices) and controls.
6. Reduce overheating (e.g. through the proportion and orientation of translucent glazing, solar shading/control, thermal mass, etc.) and ensure energy efficient mechanical ventilation and air‐conditioning (AC) and controls.
7. Commissioning of building services to achieve optimum energy efficiency.
8. Information for building occupiers on the operation and maintenance of building services and energy supply.
9. The provision of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

10. Metering of fuel and power of buildings (or parts) and of end‐uses (non-domestic building only).

Domestic buildings:

Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: domestic. Scottish Government, September 2019. Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2019-domestic/

02.03

Requirements for energy performance of non-residential commercial buildings in current building code

Ditto 02.02

Non-domestic buildings:

Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: non-domestic. Scottish Government, September 2019. Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2019-non-domestic/

02.04

Requirements for energy performance of non-residential public buildings in current building code

Ditto 02.02

Ditto 02.02

02.05

Is the performance level of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for new buildings defined in national legislation?

Statutory Instruments (SI) No. 71* states: “Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that […] (c) it is a nearly zero-energy building”

The NZEB performance level is not defined in national legislation. SI No. 71* defines NZEB as “a building that has a very high energy performance, as determined in accordance with a methodology approved under Regulation 7, of the Energy Performance of Buildings Scotland) Regulations 2008(a), where the nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on site or nearby.”

The approved methodology does not set a performance level for NZEB.

(*) Statutory Instruments No. 71: The Building (Energy Performance of Buildings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016. Available at:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2016/71/contents/made

02.06

Nearly zero energy (NZEB) level for residential buildings (level for building code)

Ditto 02.05

02.07

Year / date for nearly zero energy (NZEB) as level for residential buildings (as indicated in 02.04)

For all buildings (excluding buildings occupied by public authorities); 31 December 2020.

Statutory Instruments No. 71: The Building (Energy Performance of Buildings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016. Available at:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2016/71/contents/made

02.08

Nearly zero energy (NZEB) level for all non-residential buildings (level for building code)

Ditto 02.05

Ditto 02.05

02.09

Year / date for nearly zero energy (NZEB) as level for non-residential buildings (as indicated in 02.06)

For buildings occupied by public authorities; 1 January 2019.

For other new buildings, see 02.07.

Ditto 02.07.

02.10

Are nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB) defined using a carbon or environment indicator?

Carbon based.

Also see 02.01.

Statutory Instruments No. 71: The Building (Energy Performance of Buildings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016. Available at:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2016/71/contents/made

02.11

Is renewable energy a part of the overall or an additional requirement?

Part of the overall requirement.

Statutory Instruments No. 71: The Building (Energy Performance of Buildings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016. Available at:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2016/71/contents/made

02.12

If renewable energy is an additional requirement to NZEB, please indicate level

Not applicable

02.13

Specific comfort criteria for new buildings, provide specific parameters for instance for airtightness, minimum ventilation rates

See 02.02

03.01

Is the level of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for existing buildings set in national legislation?

No

03.02

Is the level of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for existing buildings similar to the level for new buildings?

Not defined

03.03

Definition of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for existing residential buildings (if different from new buildings)

Not defined

03.04

Definition of nearly zero energy (NZEB) for existing non-residential buildings (if different from new buildings)

Not defined

03.05

Overall minimum requirements in case of major-renovation

Building Regulations apply to new works on existing buildings. Exceptions are detailed in the Technical Handbooks*.

Similarly to England, an elemental approach has been adopted for existing buildings.

In non‐domestic buildings, under certain circumstances, the existing services must be improved to meet the current performance recommendations in the Technical Handbook. This approach is referred to as “consequential improvements”.

(*) Domestic buildings:

Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: domestic. Scottish Government, September 2019. Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2019-domestic/

Non-domestic buildings:

Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: non-domestic. Scottish Government, September 2019. Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2019-non-domestic/

03.06

Minimum requirements for individual building parts in case of renovation

Ditto 03.05

03.07

National targets for renovation in connection to Long Term Renovation Strategy (number or percentage of buildings)

Not defined

03.08

National targets for renovation in connection to Long Term Renovation Strategy (expected reductions and relevant years)

Not defined

04.01

Number of energy performance certificates per year (for instance average or values for of 3-5 years)

Scotland*

Domestic EPCs: 241,580

Non-domestic EPCs: 6,847

(*) Average value per 12 months for five-year period April 2015 to March 2020

Data has been extracted from the Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register (SEPCR). This data differs from the published data, which excludes historical lodgements.

04.02

Number of EPCs since start of scheme

Scotland*

Domestic EPCs (total to December 2019): 2,510,202

Non-domestic EPCs (total to December 2019): 49,208

Please see 04.01.

04.03

Number of EPCs for different building types

Domestic buildings (estimated)

Bungalow: 297,709 (11.86%)

Flat: 1,028,430 (40.97%)

House: 1,128,084 (44.94%)

Maisonette: 55,978 (2.23%)

Total: 2,510,202

Non-domestic buildings (estimated)

Administration, Business, Commerce: 39,858 (81.0%)

Culture, Leisure, Sport, Travel: 3,641 (7.4%)

Education: 2,559 (5.2%)

Health & Social Care: 2,756 (5.6%)

Law & Order, Emergency Services: 295 (0.6%)

Transport: 49 (0.1%)

Other: 98 (0.2%)

Total: 49,208

Source: published EPC data from 2013 to December 2019:

Domestic: https://statistics.gov.scot/data/domestic-energy-performance-certificates

Non-domestic: https://statistics.gov.scot/data/non-domestic-energy-performance-certificates

Note that (i) Percentages for each building type provided as data only recorded centrally from 2013, this data is not published by the Register. (ii) The published dataset does not include any assessments that have subsequently been replaced by a newer record. (iii) The numbers of EPCs for different building types have been estimated through a combination of the published data (building type totals) and unpublished data (percentages of different building types). Therefore, these EPC numbers are approximate.

04.04

Number of assessors

Scotland: 2,742

Data has been collated from annual returns received from the Approved Organisations / Protocol Organisations in 2019. This data has not been published previously.

04.05

Basic education requirements for assessors

The Scottish Operating Framework requires Approved Organisations to reference the UK National Occupational Standards (NOS) when establishing requirements for Energy Assessors.

NOS specify the qualifications and skills, which Energy Assessors should meet to be accredited to produce regulatory outputs.

Different accreditations are available depending on the building type, the software to be used, and the type of regulatory outputs to be produced.

04.06

Additional training demands for assessors

The Scottish Operating Framework requires Continued Professional Development (CPD). A minimum level of CPD hours is specified by each Approved Organisation.

Approved Organisations: Operational Framework. Scottish Government, December 2012.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/energy-performance-certificate-approved-organisations-operational-framework/

04.07

Quality assurance system

Under the Operating Framework, Approved Organisations have Quality Assurance responsibilities. Since 2013, Approved Organisations must check a representative sample of EPCs. Checks repeat the EPC calculations using data on the register. In 2019, 246,727 EPCs were produced and 5,645 (2.29%) were checked. Most checks are desk-based. Assessors' outputs are checked every six months minimum. Poor performance can lead to targeted auditing, retraining, suspension, or being struck off. 

Government audits Approved Organisations to ensure compliance with the Operating Framework. Approved Organisations who fail to meet the terms of the Framework are subject to a schedule of corrective action and may have their agreement terminated.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/energy-performance-certificate-approved-organisations-operational-framework/

04.08

National database for EPCs

Yes

Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register. Available at:

https://www.scottishepcregister.org.uk/

04.09

Link to national information on EPCs / Database

https://www.scottishepcregister.org.uk/

Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register.

05.01

Is there a national definition of smart buildings?

No

05.02

Are there current support systems for smart buildings?

Νο

05.03

Are there currently specific requirements for technical building systems (for instance in building codes)?

Yes, see Scotland Building Services Compliance Guides and Technical Handbooks.

 Domestic:

Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: domestic. Scottish Government, September 2019.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2019-domestic/

Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide for Scotland, The Scottish Government, 2015 Edition.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/domestic-building-services-compliance-guide-for-scotland/

Non-domestic:

Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: non-domestic. Scottish Government, September 2019.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2019-non-domestic/

Non-domestic Building Services Compliance Guide for Scotland, The Scottish Government, 2018.

Available at:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/factsheet/2018/12/building-standards-list-of-guidance/documents/non-domestic-building-services-compliance-guide-for-scotland-2018/non-domestic-building-services-compliance-guide-for-scotland-2018/govscot%3Adocument

05.04

Are there current requirements for automatics (for instance in building codes)?

Yes, see Scotland Building Services Compliance Guides and Technical Handbooks. Further provisions for BACs are expected to be introduced for AC systems above 290kW.

05.05

Chosen option A or B for heating systems (inspection or other measures)

Option B

05.06

Number of heating inspections; reports per year (if option A)

Not applicable

05.07

Chosen option A or B for cooling systems (inspection or other measures)

Option A

05.08

Number of air-conditioning / cooling system inspections; reports per year (if option A)

In 2019, 389 AC inspection reports were produced

Data returns to Local Government and Communities Directorate from Approved Organisations, 2019

Note that due to the Scottish climate, there are few qualifying AC systems.

05.09

Is there a national database for heating inspections?

Not applicable

As per 05.05, the UK decided to provide advice on boilers/ heating systems, rather than implement an inspection regime.

05.10

Is there a national database for cooling / air-conditioning inspections?

No

Approved Organisations maintain records to allow Government compliance audits.

05.11

Are inspection databases combined with EPC databases for registration of EPCs and inspection reports?

Not applicable

05.12

Link to national information on Inspection / Database

Not applicable