The upcoming Future Homes Standard represents an important step towards more sustainable housing but should be viewed as a foundation rather than a ‘ceiling’ according to Simon Garbett of Wienerberger
There’s little doubt that the homebuilding industry still has a mountain to climb in achieving its net zero targets. In late 2023, the first update of the UK Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap – the built environment’s action plan to 2050 developed by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) – revealed a significant lack of progress and policy gaps in the sector’s net zero journey. One of the most noteworthy acts of legislation, the forthcoming Future Homes Standard, aims to change this by ensuring new homes built from 2025 produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes delivered under the previous regulations. However, following its industry consultation, the standard has not made quite the impact that was hoped.
An industry letter drafted by the Good Homes Alliance, Bioregional, the Low Energy Transformation Initiative, the UK Green Building Council, plus 250 other industry leaders, was recently sent to the UK Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities. The letter stated that the Future Homes Standard is ‘not a definitive Future Homes Standard, but rather a positive step towards it,’ and requested further iteration to ensure a higher specification is met by 2028.
It’s clear the industry remains at the beginning of its journey and while legislative landmarks like the Future Homes Standard are welcome, they are merely the foundation, rather than a ceiling. The FHS identifies some key renewable components but does not provide guidance on how to combine and optimise these different systems together effectively. To unlock its full potential, the industry must adopt a more holistic and integrated approach, whether legislation dictates this or not.
As sustainable as the sum of its parts
Specifying more sustainable materials and renewable technologies is a welcome starting point – but a building is only as sustainable as the sum of all its parts, both inside and out. A higher standard should be used to inform the next iteration of Building Regulations by 2028.
Homebuilders looking to make a difference and ‘go beyond’ legislation should be exploring complementary technologies that work in harmony with each other to provide greater sustainability benefits. An example is the synergy between integrated in-roof solar photovoltaic systems and air source heat pumps. When specified together for new builds, harnessing solar power could allow homeowners to primarily run heat pumps from this renewable electricity source, significantly reducing reliance on the grid.
Intelligent monitoring and control are key to such integrated builds, managing the system to maximise self-consumption of solar power and further drive down emissions and energy costs. Such a system could seamlessly divert solar electricity to heat water cylinders during the day for use in the evenings without drawing from the grid.
However, renewable technologies can only achieve their full impact if implemented in conjunction with a ‘fabric first’ approach, optimising the entire building envelope. No matter how efficient the heating system is, a poorly insulated and draughty home will bleed energy and money.
‘Eco-bricks’ assist in this fabric first method. With a slimmer brick profile, they allow for a 31% reduction in upfront embodied carbon compared to standard bricks, while boosting thermal performance thanks to their ability to accommodate more insulation.
Upfront investment into insulation and airtightness pays dividends over decades of lower energy costs. It provides flexibility for the future too. As heating systems evolve, an already efficient and solar-powered building can adapt easily. Cutting corners on insulation or renewable generation commits that building to always consuming excessive energy, regardless of future improvements.
Digitalisation, electrification & energy efficiency
The intersection of digitalisation, electrification and energy efficiency will be vital for decarbonising housing at the pace required. Combining ultra-efficient building envelopes with solutions like in-roof solar PV, air source heat pumps and intelligent control unlocks enormous sustainability potential.
A key missing piece from the Future Homes Standard is guidance on how to effectively integrate and optimise the various renewable technologies and energy efficient components as a cohesive system. While the legislation identifies important products like air source heat pumps, solar PV, battery storage and wastewater heat recovery, it does not address how these can be seamlessly linked together. From a consumer perspective, there needs to be an intelligent way to manage and coordinate these components to ensure they operate efficiently in tandem, rather than as isolated widgets. Without a holistic, integrated approach, we risk delivering more expensive homes that simply layer on disparate technologies haphazardly.
The Future Homes Standard is a step in the right direction, but for construction to reach net zero we must go beyond just ticking standardised renewable technology boxes. An integrated, holistic approach across the entire home is needed from the very start of the design and build process.
While any new legislation guiding industry on the right path is welcome, often it does not go far enough on its own and homebuilders should always be aiming to build beyond minimum requirements. More coordinated policies incentivising this integrated approach across the entire residential sector will be required to drive the necessary transformation.
With the urgency of climate change and keeping energy affordable for all, optimising both the building fabric and renewable systems from the outset ensures new homes are truly future-proofed and sustainable over their whole lifecycle.
Simon Garbett is category manager for roofing at Wienerberger