The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places duties on relevant public bodies to:
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- contribute to delivery of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan
- act in the most sustainable way
These duties are known as the climate change duties, or the public bodies climate change duties.
One of these duties is for local authorities to develop a Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) and Delivery Plan.
Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES)
The Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) sets out the changes required to our infrastructure and buildings to meet our 2045 net zero target and 2040 fuel poverty target.
It includes all domestic and non-domestic buildings.
LHEES aim
Improve energy efficiency of buildings and ensure a just transition to decarbonised heat sources across Angus to reduce fuel poverty and contribute towards achieving net zero emissions.
LHEES priority: Improve the energy efficiency of buildings
- Tackle poor energy efficiency as a driver for fuel poverty to provide more comfortable and cheaper homes to run for the most vulnerable people in society, to improve wellbeing and reduce health inequalities
- Drive energy efficiency to reduce energy demand, and in turn, enable the successful transition to zero-emissions heating systems for poorly insulated buildings.
LHEES priority: Just transition to decarbonised heat sources
- Support Angus area-wide in transitioning to zero-emissions heating as quickly, and as fairly, as possible to contribute towards Net Zero by 2045 to help mitigate the climate crisis,which is becoming more and more evident across Angus.
- Ensure the transition to zero-emissions heating is a just transition, offering a fair and secure energy system that doesn't have a detrimental effect on fuel poverty.
- Support economic growth opportunities. by attracting businesses and skilled employment linked with heat infrastructure to Angus. Explore opportunities to retain benefits within local communities.
Delivery plan
The LHEES Delivery Plan sets out the first stage of actions for delivering this strategy. It builds on past activities and links in with other plans and strategies:
- Transition to Net Zero Action Plan
- Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP)
- Local Housing Strategy
To find out more about the Angus LHEES and Delivery plan, email LHEES@angus.gov.uk
Some of the actions we have already taken
Non-domestic building estate
Our non-domestic estate includes buildings such as schools, sports centres and offices.
For over 20 years we have been improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings through measures such as installing efficient LED lighting with controls, installing and upgrading building management systems, topping up loft insulation, draft-proofing, pipe and valve insulation, and solar PV panels. Most of the council’s newer buildings have biomass boilers, heat pumps and solar PV panels. The Monifieth Learning Campus has been built to a strict energy efficient Passivhaus Standard. It includes higher levels of insulation, air tightness, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, a large solar PV array and air source heat pumps.
We are also completing a ‘Road to net zero’ study for these buildings. This study will help us:
- decide on how buildings can contribute to net zero emissions targets
- establish the level of investment required
We will identify a pipeline of projects to 2045 and, subject to funding, deliver them.
Angus Council Housing
Again, for many years before the introduction of LHEES, the Council has been improving the energy efficiency of its housing stock to meet the Energy Efficiency Standards for Social Housing.
The following measures have helped reduce running costs for tenants:
- wall, loft and underfloor insulation
- window replacements
- securing funding through the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund for installation of Solar PV and battery storage
- quantum electric heating in some of our sheltered housing properties
Private Sector Housing
The Eco Flex 4 (Energy Company Obligation) and GBIS Flex (Great British Insulation Scheme Flex) provide funding for private domestic properties towards energy efficiency upgrades for householders in fuel poverty or on low income or vulnerable to the cold. The schemes have been operating in Angus since 2023 and are anticipated to last until 2026. To date, around £3.3m of Eco funding has been leveraged into Angus installing measures such as:
- air source heat pumps
- solar photovoltaic
- internal wall insulation
- smart heating controls
- loft insulation
- cavity wall insulation
- room-in-roof insulation
The funding has enabled over 160 households to improve the energy efficiency of their home, jumping at least 2 EPC bands, whilst saving a combined 850 tonnes of carbon and reducing energy bills. It is hoped that an Eco 5 scheme will come into effect from 2026.
The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme is available in all local authority areas in Scotland, and is available to homeowners or private renters. It targets poor energy efficiency homes with a focus of households who either receive certain benefits, have a terminally ill occupant, or are elderly (> 75 yrs) with no central heating. During 2024/25, 190 Angus households were referred to the scheme with 830 measures installed into local homes, including new heating systems, windows, insulation (wall, loft and floor), solar panels, and air source heat pumps.
The Scottish Government’s Area Based Schemes (ABS) runs throughout each council area in Scotland, targeting homes with poor energy efficiency and aiming to reduce fuel poverty. Through a funding program of around £6.7m, around 1150 properties within Angus have benefited since 2017, with external wall insulation installed at little or no cost to the homeowner.
Other Public Sector Organisations
There are statutory duties placed on relevant public bodies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to delivery of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan, and to act in the most sustainable way. These duties are known as the climate change duties, or the public bodies climate change duties. There are many Public Sector Organisations with a presence within in Angus that are contributing to the LHEES.
Examples
NHS Tayside is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and the short term and longer lasting impacts that this can have on both the individual and our local populations health. The Sustainable Property and Energy contains all the work that has been progressed to date and is currently being taken forward to achieve their journey to Net Zero by 2040
D&A College's Climate Emergency Action Plan outlines several key initiatives, including replacing all gas-fired technologies with renewable alternatives, transitioning to electric vehicles, and eliminating plastic waste. These efforts build on a decade of significant achievements, including a 63% reduction in carbon emissions since 2010 and the installation of sustainable technologies like biomass plants, solar panels, and energy-efficient systems.
Scottish Water is one of the largest electricity consumers in Scotland and their energy strategy aims to reduce the cost of delivering services to customers and reduce their carbon footprint. Some examples of projects in Angus are:
- Lintrathen Water Treatment Works inlet uses hydropower and has a turbine with a total installed capacity of 300kW. This site can generate up to 1.36GWh of renewable energy every year.
- Glen Ogil (Tannadice) Waste Water Treatment works uses hydropower and has a turbine with a total installed capacity of 85kW. This site can generate up to 510,000kWh of renewable energy every year.
- Brechin Waste Water Treatment Works has 249kW solar panels that can generate up to 231,000 kWh per annum.
- Montrose Waste Water Treatment Works has 274kW solar panels that can generate up to 240,000 kWh per annum.