Professor Lorne Crerar

The new agency has been launched by the Scottish government to scale up the delivery of climate-friendly heating and improve energy efficiency across Scotland’s homes and buildings.

Professor Crerar has been appointed to chair the strategic board, which will support, advise and oversee the agency. The agency was created as part of a £1.8 billion green heat and energy efficiency plan, and is a Programme for Government 2022/23 commitment.

Professor Crerar said: “The issue of green heat and energy efficiency has never been more important and the creation of this agency builds on the commitments made as part of ambitious climate change targets.

“Our built environment is a significant contributor to Scotland’s carbon emissions and it will take collaboration and shared ownership of efforts to transform how our homes and buildings are heated in a clean and sustainable way.

“I am looking forward to working with the Net Zero & Energy Secretary, Scottish government, and my fellow board members, as we look to bring together the various parts of society which will each have its part to play.”

Professor Crerar has significant experience of working with, and within, the Scottish public sector. In 2012 he was appointed chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise. He has also conducted two significant governance reviews for the Scottish government, namely; the Crerar Review of regulation, audit, inspection and complaints handling of public services in Scotland; and a review of Scotland’s enterprise and skills agencies which was adopted by the Scottish Parliament.

In 2017 he was appointed as co-chair of a new National Council of Rural Advisers, which delivered a report to the Scottish government creating a blueprint for Scotland’s rural economy. He was also part of the Rural Economic Action Group tasked with developing Scotland’s Rural Economic Policy.