Future Homes Standard Explained

Climate change is driving significant changes to how we are going to build houses now and in the future. The Committee on Climate Change and the government have set a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to achieve this all buildings will need to decarbonise before that time.

Future Homes Standard and Future Buildings Standard are the action plans for these targets to make all buildings and homes more energy efficient.

According to Future Homes Standard, “From 2025, new homes built to the Future Homes Standard will have carbon dioxide emissions at least 75% lower than those built to current Building Regulations standards.”

What Is the Future Homes Standard?

Future Homes Standard is a two-stage consultation by the government with an aim to increase the energy efficiency of new homes by implementing standards in new buildings residential and non-domestic.

The standards are being implemented through amendments to Building Regulation Approved Documents Part F, Part O and Part L which cover conservation of fuel, ventilation and overheating.

The aim is to achieve net zero carbon energy efficient houses to reduce emissions from fossil fuels used to heat and cool homes.

The intention is to reach these goals through high fabric standards and low carbon heating systems. New homes will need to have heat pumps and better insulated walls, floors and roofs.

The standard for the fabric of the building will be increased through:

• Triple glazing
• Standards for walls, floors and roofs that significantly limit any heat loss
• Low carbon heating system

As 25% of heat is lost through windows, it's expected that triple glazed windows will become the standard requirement for all new build houses for increased thermal efficiency.

“From 2025, the Future Homes Standard will deliver homes that are zero-carbon ready:

- We intend to set the performance standard of the Future Homes Standard at a level which means that new homes will not be built with fossil fuel heating, such as a natural gas boiler.

- These homes will be future-proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency.

- No further energy efficiency retrofit work will be necessary to enable them to become zero-carbon as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise.”

Note: at this stage, none of the introduced changes will apply to existing houses unless they build an extension, or make some home upgrades.

The First-Stage Consultation: Future Homes Standard

The first stage of the consultation was between October 2019 and February 2020.

“The Future Homes Standard will require new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency; it will be introduced by 2025.”

“Consultation on the uplift to standards of Part L of the Building Regulations and changes to Part F. This uplift is the first step in achieving the Future Homes Standards.”

The Second-Stage Consultation: Future Buildings Standard

The second stage of the consultation was between January 2021 and April 2021.

“It built on the Future Homes Standard consultation by setting out energy and ventilation standards for non-domestic buildings, existing homes and includes proposals to mitigate against overheating in residential buildings. It set out proposals for a Future Buildings Standard, which provides a pathway to highly efficient non-domestic buildings which are zero carbon ready, better for the environment and fit for the future.”

The new standards are set to be implemented in 2025 with more consultation in 2023 and legislation introduced in 2024.

Future Homes Standard Timetable

The following table shows an overview of the two parts of the consultation for Future Homes and Future Buildings Standards.

FHS = Future Homes Standard.

FBS = Future Buildings Standard.

Source

Why Was This Introduced?

To take action on the climate change crisis, the government has a target of net zero emissions by 2050.

Considering that heating and energy consumption for buildings is 40% of the UK's total energy usage, this is a key area to make changes. Tackling energy consumption through heating and cooling homes can make a significant difference in emissions and create homes that are cheaper to run.

Energy-efficient houses will also provide better living environments for health and well-being through a stable temperature and avoiding the growth of harmful mould.

“We made a commitment in the 2019 Spring Statement that by 2025 we will introduce a Future Homes Standard for new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency.”

Future Homes Standard and Building Regulations

“Together, these consultations have shaped the forthcoming 2021 changes to Parts L and F of the Building Regulations for both domestic and non-domestic buildings. This provides an interim step prior to the full Future Homes and Future Buildings Standards which cover new buildings and will be consulted upon further in 2023 and implemented in 2025.”

The Future Homes Standard consultation is centred around improving the fabric structure of new builds and these standards are being implemented through building regulations.

Interim measures for Future Homes Standard were first applied in June 2022 to building regulations Document Part L and Document Part F to start tackling a reduction of energy consumption and overheating in houses.

More changes are expected before full implementation in 2025.

“As part of the 2021 uplift, we sought views on what level to set the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards for new homes. We will set the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard at the full fabric specification set out in the consultation.”

“This will make sure there is a meaningful uplift to the fabric of new homes and greater CO2 savings. This high standard of energy efficiency will also better support the transition to the even higher fabric standards that we expect will be part of the Future Homes.”

Future Homes Standard Low Carbon Heating

Alongside energy efficiency, the primary aim of Future Homes Standard is to introduce low carbon heating systems.

At the moment, BEIS is consulting about the possibility of new build homes not being allowed to connect to the gas grid as soon as 2025.

Gas boilers are currently being phased out with a proposal that they are banned from 2035. Heat pumps are widely being pushed as an alternative to gas boilers with encouragement to make the change through the boiler upgrade scheme launched in 2022.

Although there is a question about how efficient air source pumps are when retrofitted to older houses.

The recommended low carbon heating systems include:

• Heat pumps
• Hydrogen boilers
• Biomass boilers
• Solar panels

Future Buildings Standard U-values

Achieving high standards of fabric performance is an integral part of achieving energy efficiency in new homes. U-values are one of the main standards of performance and as part of the Future Buildings Standard, U-values are being reviewed.

“We reviewed the standards for each fabric element in order to identify improvements, with the aim of consolidating standards between new builds and existing buildings as far as possible and eliminating inefficient practices. The consultation set out our proposed standards for new thermal elements, windows and doors in an existing dwelling.”

Source

Future Homes Standard for Windows

Windows contribute considerably to heat loss in rooms, with 25% of heat escaping through the glass and frame. With the emphasis on high fabric standards, alongside structural insulation, the quality of energy efficient windows is integral to achieving performance.

Future Homes Standard does mention triple glazed windows being a potential requirement in all new build houses.

Currently, the standard for windows is set at a U-value of 1.4. However, it is widely anticipated that the standard for window U-values in new homes will be reduced again by 2025 and could drop below 1.0 W/m2K.

As Future Homes and Buildings Standards are introduced and subject to more consultation, there is no doubt that the standards for the fabric structure of buildings are going to keep increasing. By future-proofing your home now as much as possible, it will be a selling point to help your house to achieve a maximum property value alongside reduced energy bills and a comfortable living environment.