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 this, 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 discussed, such as the potential for owner-occupiers and landlords to be required to decarbonise existing properties from as early as 2028. This means upgrading homes with sustainable technologies and energy-efficient measures, a challenge that will impact and be costly to many.
At West Shore, we’re 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’re ensuring that our homes are future-proofed against evolving regulations.
Our homes have an enhanced building fabric with super insulation and triple-glazed windows. They also feature zero-emissions (“non-polluting”) energy sources through the use of an innovative, air-source heat pump-powered district heating system, and solar PV panels feeding directly to the property. This combination is designed to tackle operational emissions i.e. those which arise from the use of fixed services in the home from things like heating, lighting, cooling, pumps, and fans.
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. This is not just about meeting current standards but about future-proofing homes for the net zero target, ensuring they meet both current and future requirements…
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.
