Publication - Consultation paper

Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment (HEETSA): scoping consultation

Published: 6 June 2025
From: Director of Energy and Climate Change
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate, +3 more … Chief Economist Directorate, Local Government and Housing Directorate, Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate
Topic: Economy, Energy, Environment and climate change
ISBN: 9781836917212

We are consulting on plans for a Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment (HEETSA) to help building owners identify the right retrofit measures. The aim is to protect consumers and align HEETSA with broader energy efficiency goals.

Open
70 days to respond
Respond online

Closes: 29 August 2025

Supporting documents

Footnotes

1 HEETSA - Policy Report - gov.scot

2 PRS MEES – Consultation – gov.scot

3 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency - Specification and guidance

4 PAS 2038:2021 | 31 Aug 2021 | BSI Knowledge

5 British Standards Institution - Project

6 Energy Act 2023

7 To use the typology set out for PAS 2035 which specifies the scope of the requirements for retrofit of dwellings as: a) assessment of dwellings for retrofit; b) identification and evaluation of improvement options (energy efficiency measures, or EEMs); c) design and specification of EEMs (whether individual measures or packages of multiple measures); and d) monitoring and evaluation of retrofit projects. (Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency - Specification and guidance

). We propose that HEETSA focuses on parts (a) and (b) of this typology. We are not proposing that it would cover parts c) ‘design and specification of energy efficiency measures (whether individual measures or packages of multiple measures)’, and d) ‘monitoring and evaluation of retrofit projects’, since these parts fall outside of the scope of ‘retrofit assessment’ and move into the installation and post-installation evaluation phases.

8 Energy Performance Certificate reform consultation: response - gov.scot

9 HEETSA - Policy Report - gov.scot

10 For example, this could include situations where certain types of cavity wall insulation are not suitable in areas with high driving rain.

11 Article 19 of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2024

12 HEETSA - Policy Report - gov.scot

13 The independent review recommended that: “Retrofit Assessors should be independent and regulated to ensure unbiased recommendations tailored to each property’s needs rather than commercial interests, and to safeguard consumers by ensuring assessors are sufficiently skilled to produce high quality retrofit plans”.

14 For example, use of a Trustmark installer is required where using Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme funding to install solid wall, underfloor, flat roof, or room-in-roof insulation.

15 Delivering net zero for Scotland's buildings - Heat in Buildings Bill: consultation - gov.scot – section 5.28

16 HEETSA - Policy Report - gov.scot

17 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency - Specification and guidance

18 PAS 2038:2021 | 31 Aug 2021 | BSI Knowledge

19 Residential retrofit standard

20 Renovating with Passive House components

21 British Standards Institution - Project

22 Guide to Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings | Hist Env Scotland

23 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency - Specification and guidance

24 Each Home Counts - December 2016

25 HEETSA - Policy Report - gov.scot

26 See 7.3.2 of Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency - Specification and guidance