The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has welcomed proposals by the Scottish Government to invest in energy efficiency across Scotland's homes.

At the All Energy conference in Glasgow on Tuesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched the Route Map to an Energy Efficient Scotland, which outlines plans to ensure all homes are improved to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least Band C by 2040.

Welcoming the move, SFHA Head of Public Affairs Sarah Boyack said the organisation "fully supports ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions and to eliminate poor energy efficiency as a cause of fuel poverty".

"Housing associations have a strong track record in energy efficiency, renewables and affordable warmth," she said.

"Associations have the most energy efficient homes in Scotland and deliver energy efficiency advice and initiatives such as district and renewable heating."

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Continuing, Ms Boyack said the ambitious targets need to be supported by government investment "to bring about the transformational change proposed".

"What is proposed today represents a welcome level of ambition to ensure housing makes a contribution to reducing carbon emissions but also, crucially, to help insulate tenants against rising energy prices," she said.

"While housing associations have the most energy efficient homes in Scotland, their tenants are on average on low incomes and so more likely to be in fuel poverty than the average Scottish household.

"Fuel poverty levels are highest in rural areas off the mains gas grid, and these areas particularly require investment and support. While housing associations have invested significantly in the energy efficiency of their homes, in order to meet existing energy efficiency standards for social housing, we know that the majority of that investment has come from their own resources.With these new targets, which are very challenging, there needs to be a discussion on how the significant investment required will be funded.

"We are therefore calling on long-term funding support from the Scottish Government to enable housing associations to continue to lead on energy efficiency and renewables and to provide their tenants with affordable warmth. This funding would meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to treat energy efficiency as a National Infrastructure Priority."

(LM/MH)