Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES)

Introduction

The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy (2021) sets out its aims and objectives for achieving net zero emissions within the entire building stock in Scotland by 2045, including addressing poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty. As part of this Strategy, Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) will set out the long-term plan for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving energy efficiency across an entire local authority area.

Earlier this year, a statutory order was passed by the Scottish Parliament that requires all local authorities to prepare a LHEES (Strategy & Delivery Plan) by the end of next year (2023).

Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES)

LHEES is driven by Scotland’s statutory targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and fuel poverty:

- Net zero emissions by 2045 and 75% reduction by 20301.

- In 2040, as far as reasonably possible, no household in Scotland is in fuel poverty.

LHEES will set out the long-term plan for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving their energy efficiency across an entire local authority area, with a key objective to also eliminate poor energy efficiency as a driver for fuel poverty. For each local authority area, the Strategies will draw on a standardised methodology to:

• set out how each section of the building stock needs to change to meet national objectives, including achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector, and the removal of poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty;
• identify strategic heat decarbonisation zones, and set out the principal measures for reducing buildings emissions within each zone; and
• prioritise areas for delivery, against national and local priorities.

Accompanying the Strategies will be LHEES Delivery Plans, which will be developed in partnership with key stakeholders, and provide a strong basis for action for local communities, government, investors, developers and wider stakeholders, pinpointing areas for targeted intervention and early, low-regrets measures.

Over the previous 5 years the Scottish Government has developed LHEES proposals and associated guidance & methodology to support the roll out of LHEES locally, through a series of pilot programmes and ongoing engagement with local authorities. PKC has contributed a significant amount of officer time to help shape the development of LHEES policy to date including undertaking a number of pilot projects and providing a leading local authority perspective on emerging proposals.

As noted above, a statutory order was passed by the Scottish Parliament that requires all local authorities to prepare a LHEES (Strategy & Delivery Plan) by 31 December 2023. PKC are in the early work planning stages to be able to meet this requirement, identifying the key tasks, roles, and responsibilities to prepare and undertake the necessary work to deliver a LHEES Strategy & Delivery Plan. This will involve engagement across a wide range of stakeholders, with a period of public consultation also expected.

The Scottish Government recognises that LHEES will evolve with the introduction of future standards and regulation, as well as new delivery and funding programmes. The first iteration of LHEES will reflect this and largely be focussed on delivery within the scope of the current and near future funding, regulatory and policy landscape, for example. supporting the delivery of existing funding (e.g. HEEPS ABS, ECO4); while providing a pathway to meeting medium to long term targets and objectives set out nationally, and locally where relevant.