Enhabit blog on the Future Homes Standard update

[Peter Lennard]

This blog is by someone who understands, and is qualified in, both Passivhaus and SAP and is definitely worth a read. I understand Passivhaus but am totally in the dark when it comes to SAP.

https://www.enhabit.uk.com/2021/01/28/musings-on-the-part-l-and-f-response-to-the-consultation-document/

I had to laugh at his comment on the government’s proposed non-policy on ventilation (which is a real dog’s dinner): "The bad news is that the notional houses being modelled in both the interim and the Future Homes Standard will feature an air permeability of 5m3/m2.h@50Pa, which can best be described as ‘well-insulated wind-tunnels’.”

The blog is commenting on this January update to government policy:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-homes-standard-changes-to-part-l-and-part-f-of-the-building-regulations-for-new-dwellings

That the absolute importance of fabric energy efficiency seems to have been taken on board by the government is however very good news, resulting in this most important and common sense promise for 2025 homes:

"No further energy efficiency retrofit work will be necessary to enable them to become zero-carbon as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise.” This effectively renders Lambeth’s current designs for Fenwick Place and Ropers Walk obsolete. Does anyone in Lambeth Council care?

Peter