A report looking at ways to make Scottish homes and buildings more energy efficient has been published.

The expert panel appointed to produce the report made 56 recommendations to ministers, including staged increases in energy standards for new buildings every three years, the aim of net zero carbon emissions for space heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation within the next 10 years and consideration of zero fees for building warrant applications where new buildings are to be significantly above the current energy standards.

An ambition to implement total-life zero-carbon buildings by 2030 has also been revealed.

Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "The expert panel has developed a coherent strategy that points the way to zero-carbon buildings. Scotland already leads the UK in building energy standards and planning policy stipulating low and zero carbon equipment in new developments. The panel's recommended standards are even more demanding. If implemented, they would make a significant contribution to our proposed 80 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050,”

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He continued: “The first task ahead is to assess whether the standards and the recommendations on existing buildings can be implemented. We also have to examine the costs and benefits, in partnership with the development and construction industry. It is essential that the we are fully aware of the cost implications for future strategic infrastructure investment and affordable housing programmes budgets."

Lynne Sullivan, chair of the panel added: "We have taken a pragmatic approach to permit effective implementation, whilst detailed definitions, targets and specific measures will have to be further developed for the strategy to be meaningful and have impact."

"We have used our collective experience to produce a challenge that is both demanding and realistic, within a time frame which we consider to be both essential and achievable."

The panel met in September 2007 and brought together experts in construction and energy, along with energy standards experts from Norway, Denmark and Austria.

(NS)