A public consultation on updating the assessment criteria for energy efficiency, which in turn generates the information in EPCs, has been launched to gather views on updating the home energy rating system in the UK.
The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is the current system for assessing and comparing the energy performance of homes, and was introduced in 1993. An updated Home Energy Model is proposed in line with the delivery of the Future Homes Standard in 2025, the ambitions of which are to decarbonise the country’s housing stock in line with net zero commitments.
The Home Energy Model has been created as part of a three-year research project with DESNZ and Building Research Establishment (BRE). The Home Energy Model will be used to set standards for new homes to ensure that they will be ‘zero carbon ready’, future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency. While not in the scope of the consultation, the Government has also signalled its intention to use the Home Energy Model to power assessments for Energy Performance Certificates.
“This consultation does not cover Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform and does not include a specific Home Energy Model methodology for producing EPCs. The government is working on proposals for improving EPCs, including the performance metrics they display, and intends to consult on these separately in the coming months. The outcome of the EPC consultation will feed into the development of a Home Energy Model methodology for producing EPCs, which we aim to consult on in 2024.”
the consultation document states. The consultation is seeking views at a “formative stage of the process” to inform the development of the model
Gillian Charlesworth, Chief Executive of BRE, said:
“The introduction of the Home Energy Model is a significant milestone on the road to achieving net zero across the UK’s housing stock. As uptake of green technologies increases, an effective assessment methodology which accounts for these changes will be imperative as the Government looks to secure buy-in from homeowners, housebuilders, and the retrofit industry on the net zero transition and achieve its targets in this area.
“BRE has worked closely with government since SAP was introduced, and we are excited about the potential for ambitious policies and programmes for low carbon homes which the latest version will support. These changes to the SAP methodology will have wide-reaching impacts not only for government, but across industry. I therefore urge all relevant stakeholders to take part in this consultation to ensure that the final design of the Home Energy Model is as well informed as possible.”
The consultation opens on 13th December and will close on 6th March 2024. Responses to the consultation can be submitted here: https://energygovuk.citizenspace.com/heat/home-energy-model-future-homes-standard/
