informing the conservation of the built env ironment - Historic Scotland

Historic Scotland And Climate
Change–It’s Time For Action
The Scottish Government has set itself challenging
climate change objectives: to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 42% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050. The
Scottish interim target is more challenging than the UK
target (34% reduction in emissions by 2020). To achieve
this, Scotland needs to improve hugely the energy
efficiency of its activities and to supply the consequent
energy requirements from renewable and low-carbon
sources. Meeting the targets will require a broad range
of actions throughout Scotland’s economy and society
-central government, local government and the public
sector, businesses, individuals and communities alike.
Changes in how energy is both generated and used,
and decisions made about travel, will be at the heart of
Scotland’s move to a low carbon society.
During 2010 there has been a flurry of activity with the
publication of a number of key major policy documents
and reports. These outline the Scottish Government’s
plans for achieving the ambitious targets set by the
Climate Change (Scotland) Act in 2009 and make clear
how the way that we respond to climate change will
fundamentally affect us over the next few decades and
beyond. This signals an important shift forwards in the
emphasis of the climate change agenda, away from the
policy scoping and production of statutory documents
towards the implementation of a range of actions,
policies and proposals needed to meet the targets.
The two main documents that immediately affect
Historic Scotland are the Guidance on Public Bodies
Climate Change Duties which came into force on 1st
January 2011, and the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for
Scotland (EEAP), published in October 2010. The Public
Bodies Duties provide a mechanism for organisations
to comply with the duties placed upon them by the
Act. The EEAP sets out the framework for the Scottish
Government’s approach to energy efficiency, with
the focus on energy and economic development
and reducing energy consumption in buildings and
transport.
As a large public body Historic Scotland must comply
with the duties arising from the Act. This means
we will contribute to the Government’s emissions
reduction targets, embed climate change actions into
our functions, and act in a sustainable way to provide
positive social, economic and environmental impact. In
addition, as part of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme,
Historic Scotland is committed to improve energy
efficiency and cut CO2 emissions by developing an
energy management strategy that promotes a better
understanding of energy usage.
In conjunction with the Carbon Trust, Historic Scotland
is developing a Carbon Management Plan, to establish a
firm baseline for current emissions from our properties,
set targets for future reductions, and identify a range
of opportunities where emissions can be reduced.
Historic Scotland is currently improving monitoring
and measurement of its energy consumption, including
installation of Automated Meter Reading (AMR).
Energy efficiency measures have the potential to be the
biggest source of emissions savings in the energy sector
by 2050, giving both environmental and economic
benefits. Compared with many of the alternative energy
supply solutions, investing in energy efficiency measures
offers the simplest and most cost-effective way to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions quickly. Historic Scotland
forms part of the Government’s Energy Efficiency Action
Plan and is committed to take a lead in researching and
promoting energy efficiency in traditional buildings by:
(i) carrying out research and case study projects, and
disseminating findings to and through relevant
partners, publications and digital media, to improve
provision of advice, skills and qualifications for the
public and professionals on energy improvement in
traditional housing; and
(ii) including energy efficiency in domestic properties
in existing and future regeneration and grants
programmes, such as the Conservation area
regeneration schemes.
10 FOCUS | Historic Scotland 2011