Towards a Retrofit of Care : Examining Energy Retrofitting in Scottish Households Through the Lens of Care Ethics

This insights paper sets out to explore a pressing and complex challenge within the field of climate action: how to ensure that energy retrofit efforts are under- taken with sufficient care. Despite retrofit’s pivotal role in addressing domestic greenhouse gas emissions, evidence from Scotland suggests that poorly executed retrofits are causing real harm, manifesting in damp, mould, tenant distress, and even reduction in property values. These failures, though often discussed in technical or economic terms, reveal a deeper systemic issue: a widespread absence of care in energy retrofit planning and delivery. Against this backdrop, our study offers a new perspective by asking: how caring is Scotland’s approach to energy retrofit?