By Josiah Lockhart, CEO at Changeworks
SCOTLAND has set ambitious targets to cut emissions and tackle fuel poverty. Yet for families living in homes that are increasingly expensive and difficult to heat, those goals often feel distant.
In a recent survey, 41% of Scottish households told us they could not afford retrofitting improvements – 10% more than in 2023. More than four in ten homeowners were not confident they could find trustworthy advice, and 15% would be unsure where to start.
This understanding gap is a challenge for the households that could benefit from retrofit, but also the talented tradespeople with the skills and expertise to deliver what can be genuinely life-changing upgrades to people’s homes.
Retrofitting across the UK has been estimated to cost less than London’s Elizabeth Line and generate up to eight times as many jobs.
The appetite for change is evident. 61% of Scots said they would be motivated by lower energy bills, and almost half said access to grants or funding would help. These numbers point to the reality that rather than a motivation problem when it comes to a home retrofit, Scotland has a systems problem.
The desire for warmer, healthier homes is not in question. Yet complex funding schemes, confusing advice channels and a fear of costly mistakes leave many unsure if retrofitting is the right choice for them.
But that hesitation doesn’t just affect households. For Scotland’s installers and contractors, suppressed demand means an unpredictable pipeline. When homeowners delay decisions, contractors cannot forecast workloads or scale delivery. A clearer, trusted customer journey would provide the market certainty the retrofit sector needs to build capacity.
The stakes, however, are more than financial.
With 13% of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from homes and 34% of people living in fuel poverty, retrofitting homes also contributes to stated environmental and sustainability targets.
Meanwhile, living in cold, poorly insulated homes negatively affects physical and mental health and reduces comfort. Almost 65% of Scots are worried about health problems due to damp and mould in their home. Children and vulnerable adults are particularly at risk, with cold, damp conditions contributing to respiratory problems, disrupted sleep, and stress.
Decarbonising homes through retrofit and energy efficiency measures is not just an environmental necessity – it is a social and economic opportunity. If this opportunity is properly understood.
By giving people trusted guidance, we can help Scots turn willingness into action and bridge the gap to quality installers who stand ready to deliver. At Changeworks, our Green Energy Helpline provides free expert advice for households, while our Low Carbon Living sessions help community groups and organisations learn practical steps to make homes warmer and more affordable.
The path towards improved retrofit confidence is clear: provide households with accessible funding, trusted guidance, and simple, navigable systems. If we focus on helping people access the support that exists, rather than expecting them to navigate it alone, the benefits of retrofit can become a reality for all Scots.
Lower energy bills, more affordable warmth, and improved health are outcomes everyone can celebrate – including those in installation and manufacturing.
