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Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment: consultation analysis

Analysis report for the Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment (HEETSA) consultation. The HEETSA consultation sought views from self-identifying organisations, industry and individuals on developing a framework for the retrofit of buildings, both domestic and non-domestic.


Q8 Storing Data gathered through a HEETSA

The 75 respondents that answered the question were mostly united in their response. 67 (82%) agreed that non-personal data gathered through a HEETSA should be stored to form part of a ‘building logbook’ or ‘green building passport’. Whereas 10 (12%) respondents disagreed with this question. Finally, five (6%) respondents stated they neither agreed nor disagreed.

Organisations were more likely to support non-personal data being stored. 51 organisations (91%) said they agreed. Individuals were less unanimous in their support, with eight (51%) strongly or mostly agreeing.

Most organisation sectors were very supportive, with each sector indicating 86% or higher agreement. The only exception being ‘consultancy organisation’ which had 67% in agreement.

Table 5 To what extent do you agree or disagree that non-personal data gathered through a HEETSA should be stored to form part of a ‘building logbook’ or ‘green building passport’?
Response Number Percent Valid Percent
Strongly agree 45 51 63
Mostly agree 14 16 19
Neither agree nor disagree 4 5 6
Mostly disagree 3 3 4
Strongly disagree 6 7 8
Don’t know 3 3 -
Not Answered 13 15 -
Total n=88 n=88 n=72

The main themes that emerged from the free text comments to this question are presented below.

Reasons for supporting

There were a range of reasons provided for supporting the storage of non-personal data. The most frequent reasons are provided first.

  • Live accessible logbook: It would enable a live, accessible logbook with trusted data sources.
  • Better support owners and tenants: The data would better inform and support current and future tenants/owners, in areas such as improving the understanding of their home and encouraging maintenance.
  • Improve consumer confidence: It would provide improved transparency and consumer confidence in the assessment and recommendations for a property
  • Improve data quality: It would support the quality and reliability of data for validation as well as compliance e.g. associated with relevant standards.
  • Assist Government initiatives: It would assist existing and future government policies, central interventions, and funding streams
  • Improve assessment management: It would also help enable improved asset management.
  • Reduce duplication: Storing of this data would reduce duplication associated with re-collecting this data and improve cost and time effectiveness.

The following additional points were noted in support of non-personal data storage:

  • GDPR / Consumer protection: It would benefit consumer protection.
  • Stakeholder engagement (beyond tenants/owners): It would improve engagement with stakeholders.
  • Health / wellbeing / fuel poverty: Fuel poverty alleviation and the associated co-benefits (health and well-being) could be directly supported through this approach.
  • Skills / supply chain development: It would support skills and supply chain development across the retrofit and wider sectors.

Reasons for opposing

The nine respondents opposing the storage of non-personal data cited various reasons. There was concern that the data was either unlikely to be re-used or consumers may opt out from storing their data such that it was not available for re-use. There was also felt to be a risk of the data becoming outdated. There were also concerns around consumer protection associated with data storage.

Contact

Email: EPCenquiries@gov.scot

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