The Scottish Government is committed to all buildings achieving net zero emissions by 2045 and for public bodies to show leadership by setting their own Net Zero Deadlines in advance of this.

The Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard (“the Standard”) is a voluntary standard, owned by the Scottish Government and applicable to public sector New Build Projects and the transition of Existing Buildings to meet their Net Zero Deadlines. It has been developed to make project teams

aware of current and forthcoming local, regional and national net zero policies and supports them to incorporate them into their project’s objectives.

The Standard supports public bodies to achieve:

• exemplary energy and environmental practice for New Build projects
• a credible path to transition Existing Buildings to net zero

Key benefits of buildings that adopt the Standard include:

• Place: enhance the places and communities they are set in
• Carbon: low carbon emissions and energy costs
• Environment: healthier and more productive indoor and outdoor environments

Five drivers that make the Standard work:

• supporting public bodies to meet Scottish Government policies
• providing a step-by-step approach to achieving these policy ambitions
• integrating with existing sustainability standards – a range of routes to compliance
• emphasising quality in design and construction to drive successful results
• developed in collaboration across the public sector in Scotland

The Standard was adopted by Scottish Ministers in November 2020. The Standard Document Suite was launched in November 2021 to address New Buildings and Major Refurbishment. It was re- released in August 2023 when its scope was extended to include the transition of Existing Buildings to meet their Net Zero Deadlines. Whilst a number of legacy documents predating the August 2023 re-release were designed for New Buildings only, these are progressively replaced to address Existing Buildings as the need arises.

The development and roll out of the Standard is managed by Scottish Futures Trust and Strategic Partners Zero Waste Scotland and NHS Scotland Assure on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The Standard, the Standard Document Suite, its Objectives and targets are continuously reviewed, with major revisions considered every 5 years from 2025.

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