Home Energy Model: An Update for Built Environment Professionals
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More Updates for Built Environment Professionals...
The newly released Home Energy Model Consultation by the British Government is a significant move towards improving the energy efficiency of homes across the United Kingdom. The Home Energy Model (HEM) will replace the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for the energy rating of homes, a process that is crucial to the delivery of the government's housing and climate change objectives.
Some Key Points
- Scope: The HEM will apply to domestic buildings, including both new builds and existing homes undergoing significant renovation.
- Implementation: The HEM will replace the SAP system, with its implementation scheduled for 2025.
- Industry Participation: The consultation is inviting industry participation to ensure the model accurately reflects the performance of homes. The consultation ends at
- Objections and Concerns: The government is open to objections and concerns about the HEM, and encourages stakeholders to engage in the consultation process.
The reason for a change in software in the words of the government is to 'make a new methodology which is fit for a net zero future'.
In June 2019, with the Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019, the Government committed to a 100% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared with 1990 levels. This is referred to as the net zero target.
To make the Home Energy Model fit for net zero, changes are needed not just to the methodology, but to the surrounding ecosystem. The Home Energy Model incorporates several structural changes to enable a more open, evidence-based methodology, and increase its potential applications.
Some of the main changes
- An open-source methodology.
- Changes to the delivery model and provision of software.
- A revised database of product characteristics.
- Recognising new technologies in the Home Energy Model.
- Using “wrappers” to distinguish different use cases.
The Codebase
To receive feedback on the eagerly awaited new 'hopefully' approved software, the Government has released the codebase for the calculation engine to allow built environment professionals and enthusiasts to scope out their soon-to-be-new approved software, link below to the codebase:
Codebase for Home Energy Model Software
For further information on anything relating to the Home Energy Model, please feel free to reach out by booking a meeting with one of our energy professionals HERE