Failure to account for unprotected insulation degradation could undermine new Home Energy Model
By David Lennan , Chairman, National Warm Homes Council The government’s consultation on its new online calculation method to accurately assess the energy use and energy efficiency of homes in the UK, replacing the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), closed on 27 March and will input into changes in Buildings Regulations planned for 2025. The draft consultation plans are a positive step in the right direction. But does the new Home Energy Model (HEM), which will replace SAP, go far enough in ensuring assessments are robust and fit for the future? Changing how we understand and manage home energy efficiency and consumption is on the critical path to net zero and increased levels of home decarbonisation. People want to live in modern homes genuinely future-ready that minimise environmental and social impacts. Reform of SAP has been long overdue, with the industry seeking changes for the last decade, but the regulatory environment has barely moved. That is why the co...