The UK government has initiated a public consultation on a proposed new home energy rating system called the Home Energy Model. This system is intended to replace the existing Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) rating, which is currently used to assess and compare the energy performance of homes. The SAP rating is utilized in building regulations, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), government grant schemes, policy evaluations, and advising households on energy efficiency improvements.

Key points regarding the Home Energy Model and the consultation include:

• Background on SAP:
  • SAP is the current system for assessing and comparing the energy performance of homes in the UK.
  • It is used in building regulations to ensure new homes are energy-efficient and low carbon, and it generates Energy Performance Certificates.
• Introduction of Home Energy Model:
  • The proposed Home Energy Model is seen by some as better suited to the technologies required for decarbonizing the country’s housing stock to achieve net zero.
  • It has been designed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in anticipation of the implementation of the Future Homes Standard, applicable to new homes built from 2025.
• Purpose of Home Energy Model:
  • The Home Energy Model will set standards for new homes, ensuring they are “zero carbon ready” with low carbon heating and high energy efficiency.
  • The government aims to use this model for long-term assessments of Energy Performance Certificates.
• Technology Compatibility:
  • The Home Energy Model is designed to be more compatible with green technologies such as heat pumps, storage technologies, and smart control devices.
  • It works in a modular way to support various applications where energy performance assessments are needed.
• Features of Home Energy Model:
  • The model has a higher time resolution, allowing it to model energy performance for every half-hour of the year. This enables a better representation of smart technologies and storage.
  • The proposal suggests releasing the Home Energy Model as open source to enhance transparency and facilitate application and modification by industry and researchers for different purposes.
• Consultation Details:
  • The public consultation on the Home Energy Model opened this week and is scheduled to close on March 6, 2024.
  • Stakeholders, including homeowners, house builders, and the retrofit industry, are encouraged to participate in the consultation to provide insights and ensure the final design is well-informed.

Gillian Charlesworth, CEO of BRE, emphasizes the significance of the Home Energy Model in achieving net zero across the UK’s housing stock and encourages stakeholders to participate in the consultation to inform the final design effectively.

The consultation will close on March 6 2024.  You can see it here.