The Scottish Government’s Passivhaus equivalent policy is currently out for consultation, and the ambition for this building standard marks a pivotal moment for the future of Scotland’s built environment. This forward-looking policy has the potential to significantly impact both the country’s approach to climate change and its ability to address the cost-of-living crisis by reducing energy consumption for building occupants – an ambition that Scotland can take pride in.

Passivhaus certification guarantees high quality construction, ensuring rigorous design processes and operational carbon targets are met. In practice, this standard is already proving its worth. On site at our Passivhaus school projects, our delivery teams consistently highlight the clarity that the Passivhaus standard provides, praising the confidence it brings in delivering on construction quality and sustainability commitments.

Scotland is at the forefront of this movement, setting the stage for global leadership with its efforts to develop a Passivhaus equivalent policy, but success is not guaranteed.

This is a critical moment in the journey. To ensure the integrity of any new building standard, especially one as impactful as a Scottish Passivhaus equivalent, it is essential we adopt the correct tools and metrics from the outset. The Passivhaus Trust advocates for the use of the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) as a modelling and design tool and emphasises the need for absolute, rather than relative or notional, energy targets.

That’s why AtkinsRéalis is joining the Passivhaus Trust to call for responses to the Scottish Passivhaus Equivalent consultation, which closes on Wednesday 23 October 2024. It is only through a collective response that we can ensure the resulting policy is robust, ambitious, and capable of delivering a standard that Scotland can be proud of.

The importance of collaboration

AtkinsRéalis is actively involved in delivering Passivhaus projects across Scotland, including Newcraighall and Maybury primary schools, and Currie Community High School for the City of Edinburgh Council, as well as the Art Works project for the National Galleries of Scotland. Collaboration is fundamental to the success of these projects. Passivhaus demands a holistic design approach – each element of the building must function seamlessly together. This requires detailed modelling from the earliest stages of the design process and a commitment to information sharing across the project team.

We have witnessed firsthand how design teams working on Passivhaus projects collaborate more closely, ensuring that every aspect of design is thoroughly integrated and fully detailed in line with each RIBA design stage. 

Industry upskilling

In response to the growing demand for Passivhaus standards, the Scottish construction industry is rising to the challenge. At the front end, design professionals throughout Scotland have been gaining their Passivhaus accreditation over the past few years.

The same is true for contractors, where we are seeing them invest in upskilling both their teams and their supply chains. This commitment extends beyond the immediate project timeline, with contractors embedding Passivhaus principles both prior to breaking ground and throughout the construction phase. This progressive approach is gaining momentum across Scotland and will soon work its way through the entire supply chain.

Scottish leadership on the global stage

Scotland’s Passivhaus equivalent policy could serve as a model for other countries around the world, reflecting the nation’s climate leadership and its commitment to achieving the ambitious 2045 net-zero carbon target. It demonstrates innovation, expertise, and growing reputation as a hub for research and development in sustainable technologies. Scottish academic institutions are rising to meet the demand, offering courses that focus on Passivhaus and low-energy design.

The development of a Scottish Passivhaus equivalent could also open up opportunities for exporting knowledge and skills in sustainable construction, further enhancing Scotland’s international standing in the global green economy.

We would encourage both individuals and organisations alike to engage with the consultation process by viewing the Passivhaus Trust’s feedback and submitting responses by Wednesday 23 October 2024, to shape a future we can all take pride in.

• Stewart Macleod is managing director of the property business within AtkinsRéalis.