The principle aim of these Regulations is to reduce emissions and energy use in existing non-domestic buildings. This contributes to the Scottish Government's Greener Strategic Objective. In particular, it will impact on the National Outcome “We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production”.
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 established a framework to drive greater efforts at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland. The provisions in the Act set a long-term target to reduce Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by the year 2050. This long-term target was supported by a 2020 interim target and a framework of annual targets intended to drive the policies necessary for achieving the long-term target. A range of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies have been identified which do require legislation and the Act contains provisions to allow these to be taken forward.
Within the Act, Section 63 “Non-domestic buildings: assessment of energy performance and emissions” places a duty on Scottish Ministers, through regulation, to require owners of buildings to take action to assess and to improve the performance of the existing non domestic building stock, to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
