Changeworks’ vision is for a world where everyone is able to live, work and enjoy life with a low-carbon impact. We recognise climate change is the most significant threat to the environment and our way of life.  

Over the next five-year strategic period, Changeworks will expand its activities to mitigate climate change in Scotland. We will do this through UK-wide collaboration, growing the impact of our services, increasing our work with public and private sectors, and enabling agile, diverse decarbonisation solutions.   

The public know that climate change is a significant threat; according to a Changeworks survey, 79% of householders in Scotland think climate change is a major problem that needs to be addressed. In the face of extreme weather events, flooding and risks to energy security, habitats and agriculture, we have no time to waste.

In response, we have developed an ambitious strategic plan to increase Changeworks’ impact and ensure we achieve our mission to develop and deliver high impact solutions to make low-carbon life a positive reality for everyone. 

As an organisation we have expanded significantly over the past few years, enabling us to develop new, innovative services. We will evolve these services to help householders to access end-to-end support and to support and enable householders at every stage of their decarbonisation journey.

We will also build on our strong track record of installing energy efficiency measures in homes and scale up this activity.  

We will continue to grow to meet our objectives of maximising carbon savings. This will include considering adaptation to the impacts of climate change, a refined focus on minimising embodied carbon and taking a tailored approach to retrofit, delivering what is needed for each individual home.   

We cannot decarbonise Scotland’s homes alone.

We will build on our work with the public sector and increase engagement with the private sector to scale our reach and enable a just transition to net zero.

Working with partners and governments across the UK, we will leverage our decades of experience to amplify Scotland’s voice to maximise opportunities to support and accelerate retrofit in Scotland.  

Our aim is for this ambitious strategy to inspire and motivate us all as we work towards our shared goals.

Together, we can achieve our vision – we all have a part to play in the journey towards low-carbon, affordably warm homes. 

The Climate Emergency

The climate emergency is the most pressing threat to humanity, and tackling it requires a global effort. 195 countries signed the pivotal Paris Agreement in 2016, which means they have legally committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.  

To meet this challenge, the Scottish Government established a legally binding target of net-zero emissions by 2045.

Greenhouse gas emissions from our homes account for 13% of total emissions in Scotland, which means decarbonising homes is key to tackling the climate emergency. 

However, Scotland has repeatedly failed to meet its annual emissions targets and delays in implementing climate policies led to the Scottish Government rolling back on its statutory target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030. 

To achieve Scotland’s 2045 target, urgent action is needed to accelerate the pace and scale of low emission heating installations, and the supply chain will need to expand rapidly to do so. 

The scale of the challenge is sizable, as most homes in Scotland require new heating systems and energy efficiency upgrades. Government strategies, plans, and funding alone will not be enough.  

There is still hope

Engaging the private sector to unlock new finance and opportunities will be key. Growing concern about climate change is motivating households to act.

Installing retrofit measures has a range of positive impacts for householders beyond climate change mitigation, including comfort levels at home and improved mental and physical health, and reductions in energy bills.

Decarbonising Scotland’s homes is therefore essential to reduce long-term costs and ensure a just transition to net zero.

About Changeworks

Changeworks is a leading organisation dedicated to decarbonising Scotland’s homes and a just transition to net zero.

As a charity we adopt the social enterprise model, continually re-investing to further our impact and tackle the climate emergency. A trusted partner, we deliver services across a variety of sectors and secure positive outcomes for householders.

Our expertise spans energy advice and support, retrofit delivery and management, and developing innovative decarbonisation solutions.

We also offer independent consultancy services. By collaborating with partners across the UK, Changeworks accelerates the transformation of Scotland’s homes toward sustainability. 

Our work is underpinned by our five values: 

Collaboration – By working with partners across Scotland to find decarbonisation solutions, we can help meet net zero targets.

Innovation – As dedicated experts, we are continuously working to find ways to help tackle the climate emergency.

Integrity – We are committed to being transparent and fair, acting with integrity to ensure positive outcomes for everyone we work with.

Passion – We are passionate about tackling the climate emergency, the most significant and urgent threat of our time.

Empowerment – We invest in ongoing development and tools to enable us to reach our full potential.

Our Ambition

Building on the success of our first strategic plan, this second phase of our strategy will continue to decarbonise Scotland’s homes through improved energy efficiency and renewable, low-carbon heating.

Our ambition remains to achieve our strategic target of supporting 180,000 households in installing and managing these measures by 2030, which from fabric improvements alone could save 3 tonnes CO2 per home per year.

This will create warmer, drier, and more affordable homes while maximising our contribution to tackling the climate emergency. 

In working towards that target, we will continue to increase household advice services year on year, reaching more people beyond those able to install energy efficiency or renewable measures and grow in-depth support for households in fuel poverty, ensuring an equitable transition to a low-carbon future. 

Our Strategic Plan

To achieve our ambition in a just and inclusive way, we will: