Leading social enterprise Changeworks has unveiled an ambitious new strategic plan for 2025-2030, urging public and private sector partners to collaborate and significantly accelerate the decarbonisation of Scotland's homes in response to the climate emergency. The call for collective action comes as new polling* commissioned by Changeworks reveals strong public support for the net zero transition, alongside significant concerns about energy prices and the pace of investment in sustainable energy.

The poll found that half of people in Scotland believe the transition to net zero will have positive economic impacts in the medium and long term. However, a significant 65% expressed concern that the UK is not investing quickly enough in alternative, more sustainable energy sources. Furthermore, the vast majority (83%) reported being very concerned about the continued steep rise in energy prices, while 71% indicated their support for renewable and sustainable energy for home energy use.

These findings coincide with the launch of Changeworks' bold new strategy, which emphasises the urgent need for cross-sector partnerships to tackle the significant carbon emissions stemming from home energy use, which currently account for 13% of Scotland's total. The UK is also identified as having some of the least energy-efficient housing stock in Europe, underscoring the critical role of home retrofitting – improving energy efficiency and switching to sustainable technologies – in achieving net zero targets.

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Against this backdrop, Changeworks is advocating for a concerted effort from organisations across the public and private sectors to stimulate greater green investment opportunities. The aim is to boost the economy while simultaneously delivering energy-efficient, affordably warm, low-carbon homes at scale, thereby reducing harmful emissions and alleviating the burden of high energy bills.

Changeworks, which is dedicated to decarbonising homes and ensuring a just transition to net zero, aims to significantly expand its impact through its new strategic plan. The organisation's ambitious goal is to assist 180,000 households in installing and managing energy efficiency measures and low-carbon heating systems by 2030. They estimate that fabric improvements alone could achieve carbon dioxide savings of 3 tonnes per home per year.

Building on its strong track record of delivering retrofit projects in the public sector, providing energy advice services, and pioneering innovative solutions like EcoCosi, Scotland's first end-to-end retrofit service for homeowners, Changeworks is now focused on scaling up its reach and impact. The organisation is actively seeking new partnerships with businesses, local authorities, housing associations, and the technology sector to accelerate delivery and drive meaningful change.

Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive of Changeworks, stressed the necessity of collaboration: "We cannot achieve this mission alone. Decarbonising homes is one of Scotland's biggest climate challenges, but it's also a major economic opportunity."

He added: "Our polling shows the Scottish public recognises this. With the right partnerships and investment, we can drive innovation, tackle fuel poverty, and help create a thriving green economy."

"The scale of the challenge requires a concerted, collaborative effort across sectors, and we are open to working with partners to bring innovative decarbonisation solutions to life," concluded Mr Lockhart.