Margaret Burgess unveiled the new Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) which is expected to save social housing tenants an average of £210 per year.
Raising the existing energy efficiency ratings of the social housing stock in Scotland is predicted to save around £130 million in fuel costs per year, and reduce carbon emissions from housing by 760Kt CO2.
Burgess said: “Scotland is outperforming the UK in the delivery of home energy efficiency measures that save tenants money, and the introduction of this standard will help enhance our performance for many of the poorest households in Scotland.
“Nonetheless, rising energy prices remain a huge concern for this government, and we will spend almost a quarter of a billion pounds over a three year period on fuel poverty and energy efficiency.”
David Stewart, policy manager at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, added: “While our members have the most energy efficient homes in Scotland, rising fuel prices have pushed the issue up the agenda, and when we consulted with members on the proposed energy efficiency standards, there was agreement that there needs to be a standard set in order to help address fuel poverty.
“Setting the standards will result in carbon savings and will reduce fuel bills for tenants whose homes don’t currently meet the standard.”