The Scottish Government announced plans to introduce minimum environmental design standards for all new construction in early 2023. Intended to meet Passive House standards or a Scottish equivalent, the decision was heralded by many in the world of high-performance building in the United Kingdom and beyond. Drafted legislation is expected in December 2024. According to the Scottish Government’s website, “A second consultation on detailed proposals for specific changes to performance targets and supporting compliance processes will be launched in summer 2025.
To facilitate the creation of the initial legislation, the Scottish Government currently soliciting engagement from Passive House practitioners. By learning from individuals actively engaged in the design and construction of Passive House buildings, they hope to understand the unique challenges they are likely to encounter while seeking to define a Scottish equivalent to the Passive House standard.
The Passivhaus Trust has issued a detailed response to the consultation and is offering guidance as to how to respond, including a webinar scheduled on 25 September.
“The Passivhaus Trust believes that, while there are some positive options towards a Scottish Passivhaus equivalent outlined in the consultation proposals, what is being proposed could still fall significantly short of the intended aspirations,” says Jon Bootland, CEO of the Passivhaus Trust. “In response to the consultation, the Passivhaus Trust will put forward suggestions to help inform the choices so that the standard can be seen as genuinely moving towards a Scottish Passivhaus equivalent.”