At its core, net zero refers to achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and the amount removed from the atmosphere, aiming to reduce the human impact on climate change.
The Earth is experiencing rising temperatures due to increased carbon emissions, largely from energy production, industry, and buildings. In Scotland, although much of the energy comes from renewable sources like wind and hydro, carbon emissions from housing remain significant.
To tackle the climate crisis, the Scottish government has introduced measures to reduce the carbon footprint of housing. One of the key initiatives is the New Build Heat Standard, which came into effect in April 2024. This legislation requires all new homes to adopt zero-emissions heating systems, essentially banning the use of fossil fuels for heating in homes built after this date. This is part of the broader goal of reducing Scotland’s carbon footprint and helping to meet the legal mandate of becoming net zero by 2045.
Further steps are also being consulted, such as the potential for owner-occupiers and landlords to be required to decarbonise existing properties from as early as 2028 and no later than 2033. This means owner occupiers and investors alike will have to upgrade their properties with a zero-emissions (“non-polluting”) heating system, and may have to install additional energy-efficient measures, a challenge that will impact and be costly to many.
CCG Homes is already ahead of the curve. Through our affiliation with the CCG Group, which has been building homes with zero-emissions heating systems since 2020, we have ensured your home at West Shore is future-proofed against evolving regulations.
This is achieved through an enhanced building fabric with super insulation and triple-glazed windows, and the use of zero-emissions (“non-polluting”) energy sources, including an innovative, air-source heat pump-powered district heating system, and solar PV panels feeding directly to the property. This combination of measures is designed to tackle operational carbon emissions i.e. those which arise from the use of fixed services in the home from things like heating, lighting, cooling, pumps, and fans, and reduce them to zero.
The result is what we call the CCG Net Zero Home— a home that goes beyond the current regulations, offering a higher standard of sustainability and energy efficiency. We are not just meeting current building standards, we are surpassing them, offering added value to our customers in the short and long term with reduced energy costs, and the creation of savings that can be retained…or enjoyed!
West Shore is not just sustainable living, it is an entirely new way of living.
Find out more about the measures we have installed to address carbon and utility costs through the West Shore Sales Brochure HERE.
