New ADR Scotland dataset available for research exploring energy use

Researchers exploring questions around energy use and efficiencies can now apply for access to a new linkable dataset, which includes annual estimates of metered electricity and gas consumption at the property level in Scotland. Provided by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), it is now available for research within Scotland’s National Safe Haven.

Why is this dataset important?

Professor Nick Bailey, University of Glasgow welcomed the addition of the dataset to Scotland’s National Safe Haven: “Scotland has some of the oldest, least energy efficient housing in Europe. Improving energy efficiency is a major policy priority for Scottish and UK Governments, supported through a range of schemes. This dataset will provide immensely valuable insights into the impacts of these measures helping to maximise public benefits, particularly when linked with energy efficiency datasets which are in the process of being made available for secure research."

Households, businesses and public services across Scotland spend around £2.5 billion every year on heating and cooling the buildings we use each day. These buildings are often inefficient and hard to heat, and many people find heating their home prohibitively expensive. Improving energy efficiency is a national priority by the Scottish Government and will be central to reaching ambitious climate change and fuel poverty targets.

When linked to wider ADR Scotland datasets this data could make a significant contribution to research, for example, on the impact of fuel poverty on health or educational outcomes. 

Expanding on the linkage capabilities of the dataset, Professor Susan McVie, the University of Edinburgh said: “A recent study using Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) data showed that financial stress amongst parents was a significant predictor of early onset offending amongst children. Linking energy use data to the new GUS linkage data could enable us to delve deeper into energy consumption, and more widely consider the increasing financial stress within vulnerable families.”