The Government quietly announced this month that the Future Home Standard (FHS) will use an updated SAP alongside the Home Energy Model (HEM). The release of the FHS should be expected later this year.
Retention of SAP should result in a smoother transition for developers, with less uncertainty of results and without the additional cost of procuring HEM calculations. It remains to be seen whether the more complicated HEM is developed at all.
As a reminder the following presents the 2 specifications outlined the FHS consultation for the notional building are listed below. They are based on houses. In a separate announcement, the Government has been indicating that PV panels should be included suggesting that Option 1 (or at least a varied Option 2) is being taken forward.
