The Scottish Government is working on proposals to introduce a Scottish Equivalent to the Passivhaus Standard, aiming to improve energy efficiency and environmental performance in new buildings. This was the subject of a recent consultation: Determining the principles for a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard. This initial consultation was held in July 2024 to gather views on the definition, approach, and specific aspects of the proposed standard12. A second consultation on detailed proposals is planned for summer 2025.
This first consultation provided strong support to recognise Passivhaus certification as an alternative means of compliance. This change, in itself, would not raise minimum standards and is not needed to give effect to a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard. However, it will be progressed as a separate change following the second consultation in 2025.
In addition, the Scottish Government has concluded that, although the current regulations and mandatory standards, which address energy and environmental performance, already provide the means to deliver the energy efficiency improvements which are currently sought, changes were needed to The Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 to enable more effective reporting of evidence that compliance with relevant standards is achieved.
The consultation is available to read on the Scottish Government website - Determining the principles for a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard.