Creating the conditions that facilitate the development of equitable, low carbon communities in Scotland

Increasingly, ‘Sustainable Communities’ are defined in terms of being low carbon and as vehicles for delivering well-being and equity for users and residents. However, a focus on ‘low-carbon’ alone could result in limited focus being given to current inequities (i.e. those who are given less) and potentially exacerbate the issues. In this paper we present the results of comparison with two Scandinavian case studies (Denmark and Finland) to draw lessons for the UK in general and Scotland in particular, in terms of specific low carbon ‘community approaches’ to providing heat. Presented are the fundamental drivers, issues and constraints associated with providing community level heat via decentralized District Heating Networks (DHNs) as a key element of equitable, low carbon communities. The approaches adopted in a number of European countries have delivered tangible outcomes, but what has proven to be a successful route in one country may not be the case in another. The development of heating systems has many implications, in terms of the density of design required, and the impacts on fuel poverty and winter mortality.