Housing Minister John Healey recently announced a new Standard for the energy efficiency of zero carbon homes. He proposed that energy efficiency should play a significant role in the delivery of zero carbon homes. He said that these new Standards signalled "...real momentum to change and radically rethink how we design our future towns and homes."
The new Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard will aim to deliver a much higher energy performance level for new homes by improving the fabric of the building: An improvement that would secure long lasting benefits for both home owners and occupiers.
Energy Performance Certificates provide the Standard Measure.
The new Standard will cover energy demand for space heating and cooling, assuming natural ventilation, but excluding any gains from the domestic hot water system and other appliances. It is expressed in kWh/m²/yr, a metric already familiar to many involved in energy efficiency assessments. It is the measure used in producing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and both design stage and completion energy assessments, under Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP).
The proposed levels for the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards are:
* Apartment Blocks and Mid-terrace Houses 39 kWh/m²/yr
* End of Terrace, Semi and Detached Houses 46 kWh/m²/yr
It is interesting to compare the new Standard with what is currently typical in existing homes:
* A 1930's semi-detached house with some improvements; such as double glazing and 300mm of loft insulation, uses around 7.5 times the proposed Standard.
* A mid-floor apartment built within the past five years uses around 6.25 times the proposed Standard.
Clearly, if the proposed Standards are fully implemented as planned in 2016, the change needed to the fabric design and specification of new homes is going to be considerable.
New Generation of Energy Efficient Homes.
With an interim Standard proposed for 2013 and further news imminent, house builders and developers who start preparing now are likely to gain a significant advantage over their competitors: Early entry to the market with a carefully developed and cost effective, new generation of energy efficient home design and specification.
The new Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard will aim to deliver a much higher energy performance level for new homes by improving the fabric of the building: An improvement that would secure long lasting benefits for both home owners and occupiers.
Energy Performance Certificates provide the Standard Measure.
The new Standard will cover energy demand for space heating and cooling, assuming natural ventilation, but excluding any gains from the domestic hot water system and other appliances. It is expressed in kWh/m²/yr, a metric already familiar to many involved in energy efficiency assessments. It is the measure used in producing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and both design stage and completion energy assessments, under Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP).
The proposed levels for the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards are:
* Apartment Blocks and Mid-terrace Houses 39 kWh/m²/yr
* End of Terrace, Semi and Detached Houses 46 kWh/m²/yr
It is interesting to compare the new Standard with what is currently typical in existing homes:
* A 1930's semi-detached house with some improvements; such as double glazing and 300mm of loft insulation, uses around 7.5 times the proposed Standard.
* A mid-floor apartment built within the past five years uses around 6.25 times the proposed Standard.
Clearly, if the proposed Standards are fully implemented as planned in 2016, the change needed to the fabric design and specification of new homes is going to be considerable.
New Generation of Energy Efficient Homes.
With an interim Standard proposed for 2013 and further news imminent, house builders and developers who start preparing now are likely to gain a significant advantage over their competitors: Early entry to the market with a carefully developed and cost effective, new generation of energy efficient home design and specification.
