Elmhurst Energy, an independent energy assessment body, published key information and changes on the release of PAS 2035 (2023) in October 20231. The publication is listed on Elmhurst's site under the title "October 2023: PAS 2035 (2023) Release: Key Information and Changes"1.
PAS 2035 is the standard that domestic retrofit projects must comply with, and a Retrofit Coordinator is required for all domestic retrofit projects in order to comply with it1. The Coordinator oversees the assessment of dwellings and the subsequent specification, monitoring and evaluation of energy efficiency measures, and prepares a Medium-Term Improvement Plan covering a 20 to 30 year period1.
Elmhurst sets out the five stages of a typical retrofit project: a Retrofit Assessment, in which an assessor visits the property to collect data on heating and ventilation systems, the exterior and interior, and the number of rooms, producing an Energy Report, an Occupancy Report and a Condition Report; a bespoke plan created by the Retrofit Coordinator; quotes obtained from approved retrofit contractors; the work itself; and completion and checking against quality standards1. The assessment is described as non-invasive, with no drilling or hammering into walls, and typically takes between one and two hours depending on the size or complexity of the property1.
Common types of retrofit listed by Elmhurst are insulation of walls, floors and lofts, windows, renewable technology, airtightness and ventilation1. Elmhurst states that not all techniques and technologies are suitable for every home, and that a qualified Retrofit Assessor will assess each property individually1. On cost, Elmhurst says the cost of retrofitting a house can vary considerably because every property has unique needs, that the cost of each measure will be provided during the project, and that work can be completed in stages1. No figures for typical costs are given1.
"October 2023: PAS 2035 (2023) Release: Key Information and Changes"
The specific changes introduced by the 2023 edition are not set out in the text available1. Elmhurst's page links to a separate article carrying that title, but the detail of those changes has not been reported here1.
Why it matters for households
PAS 2035 sits behind any domestic retrofit project carried out to the standard, which means the process a household encounters, who is involved and how the work is checked are all set by it1. The roles named by Elmhurst are distinct: a Domestic Energy Assessor produces an Energy Performance Certificate and improvement recommendations, a Retrofit Assessor carries out the retrofit assessment, and a Retrofit Coordinator is required for compliance and prepares the long-term improvement plan1. For a home's energy independence, the practical effect is that measures are specified against an assessment of that individual property rather than applied as a default, and that the plan can run over 20 to 30 years and be delivered in stages1. Elmhurst notes the UK has some of the oldest and worst housing stock in Europe, with heat dissipating through walls, windows and doors, leading to more energy consumed and higher bills1.
What happens next
Elmhurst's page records the October 2023 release and links to its article on the key information and changes1. No further dated steps are given in the text available1.
Sources1 cited
- Home Retrofit for Energy Efficiency - Elmhurst Energy, elmhurstenergy.co.uk