RETROFITTING CAMPAIGN TARGETS SCOTLAND’S LEAKY HOMES

[TWO IN EVERY FIVE occupied homes in Scotland do not meet quality standards, with the highest failure rates relating to energy efficiency. Now, construction industry experts are calling on the Scottish Government to develop a long-term, joined-up retrofitting strategy to urgently tackle the problem.

Members of the Scottish Parliament, experts in construction and housing, and school pupils gathered at the Scottish Parliament on 18 May to explore ways to tackle the retrofit challenge now and into the future.

Around 30 people, including Grand Designs presenter Natasha Huq, joined the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) Retrofit Roundtable in Holyrood to discuss the need for a collaborative strategy to improve the energy efficiency of homes and buildings across the country.

Jocelyne Fleming, policy and public affairs officer for CIOB in Scotland, said: “It was encouraging to have cross-party support from MSPs, along with representatives from the construction sector, at our roundtable to discuss the important role retrofitting will play in cutting energy bills and improving the quality and sustainability of the built environment.

"Action to improve the condition and energy efficiency of Scotland’s existing housing stock is urgently needed. Meeting Scotland’s necessarily ambitious housing and decarbonisation targets will not be possible without collaborative, proactive action from government and industry.”

Retrofitting measures reduce heat loss from properties, therefore reducing energy consumption and in turn costs to residents. Less energy used also means a reduction in carbon emissions from homes which are powered or heated by fossil fuels.

Over two days, and aligning with the roundtable event, pupils from four schools took part in a retrofitting skills workshop outside Holyrood, led by industry organisations and colleges, where they tried their hands at activities including roof slating, thermal imaging and stonemasonry and working with sustainable materials. Presiding Officer for the Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone (pictured above right), also took part.

The construction sector constantly struggles to recruit and retain enough skilled people to meet demand, and it is widely recognised that any strategy on retrofitting will need to start with a co-ordinated approach to recruiting, training and retaining skilled workers to carry out retrofitting measures.

Gordon MacDonald MSP commented: “If we are to ensure that everyone in Scotland has a warm, safe, affordable and energy-efficient home that meets their needs, our existing housing stock will need to be retrofitted and repaired.

"Creating an environment that makes retrofit projects accessible and affordable to households across Scotland will require collaborative, innovative action. It was great to hear from stakeholders and practitioners from the built environment sector about the challenges they face when retrofitting and preserving buildings and to brainstorm policy solutions to tackle them.” q