On the 13th December 2023 the Departmentfor Energy Security and Net Zero announced the launch of an open consultation seeking views on the new Home Energy Model which will replace the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for the energy rating of homes.

The consultation is now open and you have the chance to feed in to the consultation before it closes on 6th March 2024.

Whilst this consultation may not be directly linked to the solid wall insulation market it will likely affect many SWIGA members who are inolved in the wider retrofit industry. It's therefore important that you know what's on the horizon and have your say accordingly.

The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is the methodology currently used by the government to estimate the energy performance of homes across the United Kingdom. It is of critical importance to the delivery of our housing and climate change objectives.

The Home Energy Model will replace the SAP for the energy rating of dwellings. It is still under development and we will implement the first version alongside the Future Homes Standard in 2025.

DESNZ are consulting on the Model while it is still at a formative stage, so that industry can participate in the development process. This consultation:

1. summarises the development and validation work undertaken to date
2. invites feedback to enable further model development in advance of its introduction

Ofer the course of the consultation they will also hold a series of engagement events throughout the consultation period. If you would like to find out more about these seesions please email homeenergymodel@energysecurity.gov.uk.

SWIGA expect this consultation will be of interest across the built environment sector and it forms part of a wider government package relating to the Home Energy Model and the Future Homes Standard - useful links to which are as follows:

• Future Homes and Buildings Standards 2023 consultation
• Home Energy Model: Future Homes Standard assessment consultation
• Home Energy Model: Future Homes Standard assessment consultation tool

Technical documents can be accessed via the following links:

• Home Energy Model: technical documentation
• Home Energy Model: validation documentation
• Home Energy Model: Future Homes Standard assessment: technical documentation
• Home Energy Model reference code

The consultation itself is a comprehensive 83 page document entitled: The Home Energy Model: making the Standard Assessment Procedure fit for a net zero future which is accompanied by a 12 page evaluation of the Home Energy Model and Future Homes Standard assessment wrapper. Both can be accessed here:

• The Home Energy Model: making the Standard Assessment Procedure fit for a net zero future.
• Evaluation of the Home Energy Model and Future Homes Standard assessment wrapper.

This consultation presents the government’s Home Energy Model: Future Homes Standard assessment, a methodology designed to assess compliance with the 2025 Future Homes Standard (FHS). The FHS will require new homes to be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency, through uplifts to the Building Regulations.

The Home Energy Model: FHS assessment builds on the government’s new Home Energy Model, which will replace the existing Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for the energy rating of dwellings.

When assessing the energy performance of a new home, standardised assumptions need to be used for e.g. occupancy and occupant behaviour (what temperature the thermostat is set at, how much hot water is used etc.). This provides a consistent assessment process and ensures that all new homes are treated fairly. Other assumptions (e.g. the carbon intensity of electricity) are used to calculate the performance metrics that will determine a home’s compliance with the FHS. This document sets out the proposed standardised assumptions for the Home Energy Model: FHS assessment, their justifications, and the work that has been done to validate the methodology. 

Access The Consultation >>>