Scotland's social housing stock near to "failing entirely" on energy efficiency

Existing and new social housing stocks across Scotland are at "danger of failing entirely" in obtaining energy efficiency, according to a report by the Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES) and the Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE).

The study, released this week, found that authorities have made just over half the energy efficiency improvements sought by the 1996 Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA).

The Act charged councils with attaining "substantial" improvements - set by the then UK Government at 30% over 10 years.

However many Scots authorities negotiated that figure downwards and now have targets as low as 9%, the report states.

Most housing stocks, claim the organisations, don't even include improved insulation and heating systems.

The groups are now calling on strengthened legislation, aimed at boosting domestic energy efficiency, which they claim is "floundering" and "in danger of failing entirely".

Kirstie Shirra of FoES said: "It is extremely disappointing that legislation which could improve the situation is failing to make any significant progress. We hope the publication of this report will now prompt changes to the Act and real, essential improvements to energy efficiency in Scotland's homes can begin to take place."

ACE director Andrew Warren said: "The report highlights that only a very small minority of local authorities have made substantial improvements in energy efficiency. If HECA continues to operate in its current state, many local authorities will fail to make any significant progress and the vast opportunities that energy efficiency presents will be lost."