BEAMA, the trade body for electrotechnical and energy-related manufacturers, published Version 1.1 of its Future Homes Standard: Phase 1 Network-to-Emitter Impact Report in April 2023, ahead of a consultation it expects in Autumn 20231.
The report states that the standard, when it comes into force in 2025, "will represent a landmark moment in which low carbon technologies will be required in dwellings to comply with new building regulations"1. It describes homes built to the standard as saving 75 to 80 per cent of carbon emissions compared with a home built to Part L 2013, not using fossil fuel heating, and being zero carbon ready, requiring no energy efficiency retrofit as the electricity grid decarbonises1.
"When the Future Homes Standard comes into force in 2025, it will represent a landmark moment in which low carbon technologies will be required in dwellings to comply with new building regulations and the Net Zero commitment."
The report sets out two main energy strategies for new build housing: heat pumps paired with good levels of fabric, or direct electric space heating and air-to-air heat pump units in dwellings with very low heat profiles, combined with hot water only heat pumps or solar PV1. It gives indicative costs and performance figures for the technologies it covers.
| Technology | Reported cost | Reported performance |
|---|---|---|
| Air source heat pump | Typically £7k to £13k including installation | Median seasonal performance factor of 2.80; 2.44 on the coldest days1 |
| Hydronic underfloor heating | Typically £100 to £200 per m2 | 20% more efficient than a traditional radiator-based system when paired with a heat pump1 |
| Air-to-air heat pump | Typically £1.5k to £5k per system | COPs of up to 3.5 at an external temperature of 10°C1 |
Air-to-water heat pumps are described as the most common heat pump in the UK, breaching 3 million units in 2021, operating at flow temperatures of up to 55°C as required by Part L but performing best at lower temperatures such as 35°C1. The report says air-to-air units are not suitable for larger houses with a high heating requirement and should be reserved for smaller, well insulated properties with a small number of rooms, and that they need to be specified alongside a separate domestic hot water system1. It also notes that heat pump systems should be serviced every year, that systems must adhere to BS7593, and that units using refrigerants must be installed by an F-Gas certified installer1.
Why it matters for households
The report describes the direction of travel for new homes rather than for the existing housing stock. For a household buying or specifying a new build, it indicates that fossil fuel heating is not part of the intended design, and that the Future Homes Standard is expected to shape what heating, hot water and ventilation a home is built with. The heating options for new build homes set out in the report carry different running costs and installation requirements, and the report notes that each dwelling type will need its own specification based on occupancy, service use and internal space1. It also raises the question of whether a new build home can still connect to the gas network, given the expectation of almost exclusively electrified solutions1.
For energy independence, the report points to a decarbonising electricity grid, flexibility services and on-board generation as the route to operationally carbon negative homes over time1. It recommends that Government supports technologies enabling demand side flexibility, including batteries, heat pumps, underfloor heating and electric storage heaters1. It also flags the cost of electricity and consumer understanding as areas needing attention, and recommends a consumer education campaign covering how to use low carbon technologies1. The report states that introducing these technologies at mass scale will require adjustments to the way homes are designed, built and lived in1.
What happens next
The report states that the Future Homes Standard consultation is expected to be published in Autumn 20231. It recommends that a BETA version of SAP 11 be available from the start of the consultation period so industry can model the impact of proposals, and that the consultation include an outlook on expected changes to Part L, Part F and Part O1. It also recommends including an air source heat pump and MVHR within the 2025 notional building, paired with the minimum fabric standard1.