Probe into Green Home Heating Consumer Protections.

Consumer protections in the green home heating market are under investigation by Scotland’s statutory body for consumers. Consumer Scotland has launched a review focusing on helping consumers decarbonise and improve energy efficiency in their homes.

The investigation will delve into several key issues, including whether consumers have access to high-quality and easily accessible advice and information, strong consumer protections, fair and affordable consumer incentives, and competitive and clear product choices.

Consumer Scotland has called for information across the sector to gather evidence on existing practices. After the investigation, recommendations will be made to provide the necessary protections and confidence for consumers to make the switch to cleaner heating systems and improve home energy efficiency.

The shift towards removing emissions from home heating is crucial for the ongoing transition to net zero. The Scottish Government is proposing legislation with new targets for delivery, requiring around 2.4 million homes to convert to cleaner heating systems by the end of 2045. This will create a demand for green technologies like heat pumps, solar panels, and insulation, leading to an unprecedented market for these products.

Sam Ghibaldan, Chief Executive of Consumer Scotland, highlighted the benefits of transitioning to clean heating and energy-efficient homes for consumers. However, there are concerns about consumer confidence in the sector, including low awareness, misleading claims, rogue traders, and scams.

Ghibaldan emphasized the importance of consumer confidence and incentives to drive the adoption of green technologies necessary to achieve Scotland’s net zero targets. Consumer protection and support throughout the process are crucial as the pace of adoption increases.

Consumer Scotland is seeking input from organizations and individuals across the sector to gain a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the current market.

Fiona Richardson, Chief Officer at Trading Standards Scotland, welcomed the launch of the investigation. She noted that while the transition to decarbonised and energy-efficient homes offers significant benefits, enforcement actions, advice, and campaigns must combat scams, product mis-selling, and rogue trading in the sector.

Ensuring that consumers are empowered to make safe and informed choices is vital to achieving targets in the years ahead. Trading Standards Scotland looks forward to collaborating with Consumer Scotland to secure positive outcomes for consumers in this critical market.