Heat

Get information and support if your community is thinking about ways to decarbonise your heat.

Reducing emissions from our homes and buildings is one of the most important things we can do to help end Scotland’s contribution to climate change.

Our homes and workplaces account for around a fifth of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising heat and transforming our homes and buildings will be very challenging but it is crucial if we are to meet Scotland’s target of net zero emissions by 2045.

Communities will have a key role to play in reaching this target and, over the coming years, CARES funding and support will increasingly focus on projects that support the decarbonisation of heat.

The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in October 2021, sets out its vision for the future of heat in buildings. It outlines the actions it is taking to deliver its climate change commitments, maximise economic opportunities, and ensure a just transition, including helping to address fuel poverty.

Read more about how CARES will support the Strategy.

CARES provides support to communities, charities, and faith organisations to reduce their building’s energy costs and carbon emissions and to act as exemplars to support further action across the local community. Applications for the Community Buildings Fund will open in spring 2025.

CARES also supports projects that include heat in local energy systems.

We hosted a session on how to develop a heat project at the CARES Conference 2022. In this session you can find out more about the new community heat development programme and hear from the technical contractor that will be providing support.

Watch a recording of a focus session on decarbonising heat from the CARES Conference 2021. This session focuses on two great examples of projects that communities could support, as well as the direction of policy in this area.

What does the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy mean for communities?

The climate crisis means that we need to decarbonise over 1 million homes by 2030 and greatly reduce emissions from our non-domestic buildings too. The Scottish Government held a consultation for the Heat in Buildings Bill which closed in March 2024. The bill proposes making new laws about the heating and energy efficiency of existing homes and businesses.

Watch our video to find out how the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) can help as we transition to net zero.

Alford and District Men’s Shed (ADMS) installed a whole energy system powered by renewable energy to minimise the building’s carbon footprint.

Watch the video to find out more about ADMS and its energy system.

ISKCON Scotland

ISKCON Scotland received helped from the Community Buildings Fund to help keep their building warm and to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Aboyne & Mid Deeside Community Shed

Aboyne & Mid Deeside Community Shed got support from the Community Buildings Fund to install an air source heat pump and solar panels to help keep their building warm.

Case Studies

Safeguarding the sustainability of Scotland’s off-grid communities

Community Owned Solar PV

Dundee Renewable Energy Society solar meadow

Community Benefits

Braco’s and Greenloaning’s community action plan

View all case studies

Resources

Heat Pumps

An introduction to the different ways you can develop a heat pump project, including a step-by-step guide.

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Legal structures and governance considerations in community heating

In depth guidance about the starting points to consider when starting a community heating project.

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