Energy Matters - Issue 13

ENERGY MATTERS

BRE

Changes to RdSAP Methodology in 2024

Scotland EPC Reform Consultation

Elmhurst Joins Friends of Energy House 2.0

Confirm

The Energy Security Bill and the Impact on EPCs

Foreword

Stuart Fairlie Managing Director Elmhurst Energy

The latest news is that we are expecting the long overdue update to RdSAP early in 2024. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) have informed us that full details will be available soon and want the update to be delivered in 6 months. As an industry, we all want to see the methodology updated in order to have the latest fuel prices, carbon factors, and new technology and innovations recognised, as well as a revamp of recommendations.

The update is certainly overdue and brings existing dwellings in line with new build homes on SAP 10. More details will follow when we have further information to share.

Energy Efficiency in buildings is never far from the news and this is something that we welcome. However, sometimes the messages are not quite true. At Elmhurst, we continue to clarify any misunderstandings and explain complex information, as well as push the benefits of using competent people to undertake assessments of

I hope that you enjoy this latest edition of Energy Matters and all the articles inside. This summer may have been a bit hit-andmiss with the weather, but I know that things have been very busy in the world of energy efficiency.

people’s homes and businesses. The good news is that with the methodologies being constantly updated and more talk surrounding the outputs, e.g. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), consumers are becoming more aware. Recent delays, however, do seem to be politically motivated. The current Government will at some point need to set an election date and it appears that anything challenging or unpopular can perhaps be delayed until after the next election.

On a more positive note, I was delighted to attend our Scotland Conference in Edinburgh this June, which was our biggest and best. We are also looking forward to our Wales Conference on 12th October and are currently organising our Northern Ireland event. These conferences allow us to get out and about, meet members, and produce a great lineup of speakers, from Government, Industry, and Academia. The events are always great and allow members to network.

I am also pleased to see the coming together of Stroma Certification and Elmhurst Energy, which continues to take place throughout this year. Our On Construction and Non-Domestic teams have already come together and, at the time of writing, the other strands are working extremely hard to ensure business continuity and smooth transitions for all. As promised, we are taking the best of both worlds; our support teams will be larger and more resilient, and members will end up with better service and products. Please keep an eye out for any communications surrounding the merger.

After a quiet year, consultations

have come back with a BANG! and we continue to reply to those that affect our members and industry. The current consultations include one from RICS on a Retrofit standard, a Scottish EPC Reform, Northern Ireland Building Regulations, Ofgem on RdSAP for use within ECO policy, and Wales Heat in Buildings. It is vital to have a voice and share our expertise with the Governments and Regulators. Please keep a look out for our news articles covering these topics.

At present, we still await the consultation on the EPC Action Plan from DLUHC, with its aim to build upon and improve all aspects of EPCs. The Energy Bill is also progressing, which will ensure that the law, which was previously in line with EU law, is reset to UK legislation. Finally, be sure to keep an eye out for a consultation on SAP 11, which is expected ‘shortly’ and will indicate the next step in the transition to the Future Homes Standard in 2025.

Energy Efficiency has never been more important, and we are certainly beginning to see the road ahead, with Future Homes and Building Standards due in 2025 across the regions. Air Tests are now required on all new build homes (no sampling) and we are supporting background air tests that are a new opportunity for the air testing industry; whole house retrofit is certainly centre stage and we all know what is required at mass scale. I also hear a lot of talk surrounding Net Zero, fuel poverty, overheating issues and damp and mould issues in homes. As we always state, our members know how to solve these issues; we just need enforcement, the political will, and the funds to be able to do so.

I hope you enjoy the articles in this magazine and have a wonderful end to the summer period.

Stuart Fairlie Managing Director Elmhurst Energy

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Elmhurst Energy Joins Friends of Energy House 2.0

What is ‘Energy House 2.0’?

I visited the facility in January and was astounded by what I saw. As you can see in the image, I dressed for a relatively balmy 10oC January day and found myself being transported to Siberian sub-zero temperatures. As soon as I was inside one of the houses (built to the Future Homes Standard) I was at a comfortable 18 degrees. Talk about 4 seasons in one day!

The houses were pretty incredible too! I put an offer in on the same day.

You may have recently heard that Elmhurst Energy has joined Friends of Energy House 2.0. Founded by the University of Salford, the network was created to help raise the profile of the climate change emergency and to enhance the awareness and activity of their stateof-the-art research facility, Energy House 2.0.

Located at the University of Salford, Energy House 2.0 is a state-of-the-art research facility designed to address the impact of climate change on housing. The facility consists of two large chambers, each capable of accommodating two detached homes under controlled conditions. Each chamber can simulate a range of environmental factors, including temperature extremes (-20˚ C to +40˚ C), wind, rain, snow, and solar radiation.

The facility is used by researchers to test the effects of climate change and look at the ways in which buildings can withstand extreme weather conditions. With the built environment accounting for 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint, the project will allow researchers to identify strategies to reduce carbon emissions in homes and optimise operational costs.

In June 2022, the University of Salford began building test houses inside the environmental chambers in partnership with Barratt Developments, Bellway Homes, and Saint-Gobain. These were completed in January 2023.

This truly is a remarkable achievement by the team at Salford and its partners; a worldclass, one-of-a-kind facility. It will help us understand the buildings of the future and how they will perform in the range of conditions that will more than likely face our country in the coming decades. Whilst this gives me great hope that we can start to make big strides from this research work, it should also be seen as a stark warning that our older buildings will also have to be adapted to cope with these same conditions.

What is ‘Friends of Energy House 2.0’?

Following the launch of the research facility, the University of Salford launched the Friends of Energy House 2.0 community. This group comprises individuals and businesses committed to finding and researching solutions to fighting climate change and achieving Net Zero in the UK.

The key mission of the network is to raise awareness and increase the impact and activity of the research facility in Salford. A key component of this is the Impact

Fund, which aims to find and finance initiatives and projects that are focused on battling the climate crisis.

Elmhurst’s Involvement

As a member of Friends of Energy House 2.0, Elmhurst is committed to working with the University of Salford to better understand how buildings perform and how to address the challenges of achieving Net Zero in buildings.

After my visit to the facility, I have a greater appreciation of the scope and importance of this project and its wider aims. I am thrilled that Elmhurst is a Friends of Energy House 2.0 partner; there are two parts of this that really excite me:

The laboratory itself will help us understand the actual performance of buildings and services in ‘real world’ conditions. The opportunity to work collaboratively, sharing knowledge and experience in a push towards better performing buildings and more informed regulations and methodologies, is also a positive ambition.

The other part is just as important - the Impact Fund. Its focus on the climate change challenge and how we can tackle it from various angles is really positive to see, and Elmhurst is proud to be a donor.

The Future

Elmhurst and Energy House 2.0 will be working together on several key areas. Particular focus will be on SAP results modelling for these future homes and the systems that are being installed. Ensuring that future dwellings are energy efficient and able to perform in a range of climatic conditions is key to our future; both for society and for our planet.

The team is about to embark on an intense programme of testing but if you do get a chance to visit the facility, prepare to be wowed!

Andrew Parkin Technical Development Director

We are delighted to see the Energy Security Bill march through the various stages of parliamentary oversight This update will support both DLUHC and DESNZ's ambitions to improve the infrastructure surrounding Energy Certificate.

The Energy Security Bill and the Impact on EPCs

What is the Energy Security Bill and how does it impact EPCs?

The Department for Energy, Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) introduced the Energy Security Bill (now known as the Energy Bill) to Parliament in July 2022. The aim of the bill is to usher in a cleaner, more cost-effective, and secure energy infrastructure in England and Wales. As time marches forward, significant strides have been made, and the Bill has successfully advanced through the House of Lords. There is mounting excitement and optimism that the Bill could soon be passed into law.

What does the Energy Security Bill cover?

The new Energy Security Bill is extremely wide ranging and covers an enormous amount of regulations, including energy production, security, carbon capture and, vitally for our industry, the law surrounding the production of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and Air Conditioning Inspection Reports (ACIRs).

As recently reported via our website, the strengthening of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is also included within the Bill, and phase 3 of the

scheme has since been extended to allow for proposed changes to the scheme to become law.

How will the Bill affect the production of energy certificates?

The government understands the importance of the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) Framework and its role in helping the UK to achieve its Net Zero carbon targets by 2050: “The framework will need to play an increasingly important role if the UK is to achieve its target for netzero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Energy Certificates including Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) provide

consumers, building owners and occupiers and third parties with information on the performance of the building stock and support effective decisions on improving the energy efficiency of buildings.”

Power to make energy performance regulations

Following the UK's departure from the EU, the EPB regulations 2012 which govern the production of energy certificates was covered by a great repeal bill, which enshrined these regulations in UK law. This effectively bought time for the government to create new primary powers for EPB regulations.

The powers in the Bill will allow these requirements to be copied or amended in new regulations, to ensure that they are fit for purpose and reflect the UK’s ambitions on climate change. This would cover the following areas:

n EPC trigger points,

n EPC validity period,

n Role of Energy Assessors,

n The information that EPCs provide

n Requirements for the EPC to be calculated according to a government approved calculation method.

The EPC Action Plan highlighted the government’s intent to make changes to trigger points and validity periods and to clarify existing exemptions from requirements. Once the bill has been passed, the government will consult on any proposals for change in its planned consultation.

Power to amend Civil Penalties

The levels of penalty charges for not having a legally valid energy

certificate were set in 2007, 16 years ago, and have not been amended since. Once the bill is passed, the government will consider amendments to civil penalties, subject to consultation, that are proportionate and reflective of the changes to the EPB regime since 2007.

National Warmer Homes and Businesses Action Plan

Once the bill has been passed, the government will be given 6 months to publish an action plan entitled the Warmer Homes and Businesses Action Plan, which will outline how the government intends to deliver on the following areas:

1.Achieving a low-carbon heat target, of 100% of installations of relevant heating appliances and connections to relevant heat networks by 2035.

2.Achieving EPC band C by 2035 in all UK homes where practical, cost-effective, and affordable.

3.Achieving EPC band B by 2028 in all non-domestic properties and introducing the Future Homes Standard for all new builds in England.

Elmhurst Energy Managing Director, Stuart Fairlie, comments; “We are delighted to see the Energy Security Bill march through the various stages of parliamentary oversight. This update will support both DLUHC and DESNZ's ambitions to improve the infrastructure surrounding Energy Certificates; the new regulations we have been informed of will also help the drive to keep pushing for the Government’s EPC Action Plan to better deliver Energy Certificates for all UK buildings.”

Confirm Changes to RdSAP Methodology in 2024

Elmhurst Energy has received some more detail regarding the next version of Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP)RdSAP 10, from the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

What changes have been confirmed in RdSAP 10?

The release of RdSAP 10 in early 2024 marks the first full-scale update to the methodology in four years. Elmhurst has reviewed the documents provided and has identified some of the big changes being introduced with RdSAP 10, that could impact the work of energy and retrofit assessors in 2024:

n Assessors will be required to measure all windows - This represents a move away from the assumption of typical glazing areas for the age of property. The benefit of this that it will be more reflective of the property being assessed and thereby more accurate.

n Additional options for roof rooms - Assessors will be required to take a couple of additional measurements in order to capture the different construction types of any

common wall and gable walls.

n New age band - Introduction of new age band for properties built from 2023 onwards to show improvement in u-values.

n New region added - The Isle of Man has been added as a region alongside England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has previously never been possible to undertake RdSAP assessments in the Isle of Man before.

n Assessors can account for PV diverters and battery storage - When present in the property, assessors will be able to account for PV diverters and battery storage.

n Heat Pumps to be recommended moreThe government’s low carbon solution of choice, Heat Pumps, will be appearing more often as a

recommended improvement measure, under certain conditions e.g. the property has to be fairly well insulated.

Elmhurst Energy’s, Existing Dwellings Manager, Damien Roberts comments: “We are pleased to finally have eyes on the initial RdSAP 10 specification document, which gives us and industry, a better handle on what domestic energy assessments will look like from 2024.”

Visit the Elmhurst website to read the full update on confirmed changes to RdSAP.

New RdSAP 10 Courses: Now Live

Book your place on Elmhurst’s upcoming RdSAP 10 CPD courses to find out more about the important changes:

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Green Finance Projects: Funding for Energy Efficiency

add the cost of making energyefficient improvements to their monthly repayments.

This funding is designed to help achieve the government’s wider target of ensuring as many homes as possible reach an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2035. With the higher EPC rating, fuel bills will be lower, and homeowners could save over £460 a year.

Elmhurst’s Existing Dwellings Manager, Damien Roberts, comments:

In the last weeks, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced a pilot scheme where funding would be made available for green finance projects that would allow homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

DESNZ will make £4.1 million available across a range of products, including mortgages, that reward energy efficiency upgrades and loans linked to installing heat pumps. The concept of the funding is to help banks and other loan providers develop their products, making it easier for homeowners to unlock upfront cash. Should the development of the products be successful, homeowners could see their mortgage rate reduce after installing energy-efficient measures, and landlords could

“This is really positive news. It shows the government’s intention to improve the UK housing stock and its commitment to reducing fuel poverty. Allowing homeowners access to funds to improve their homes is a must. The current economic situation means that people do not have any spare cash available to make the necessary energy-efficient improvements to their homes. More still needs to be done to achieve the targets that have been set, but this is a step in the right direction”.

“This is really positive news. It shows the government’s intention to improve the UK housing stock and its commitment to reducing fuel

Scotland EPC Reform Consultation

The Scottish Government has released a new consultation surrounding proposed changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). This includes changes to metrics, accessibility, and the use of data. The consultation closes on 10th October 2023.

In 2021, the Scottish Government consulted on proposals to amend the Domestic EPC. This was built on the principle that high-quality advice and information are vital for homeowners to understand their building’s current energy rating and help inform decisions on improving its energy efficiency.

The Scottish Government initially advised three stages of

consultation on EPCs. However, this has been modified following consultation responses, further research, and a wider consideration of the Heat in Buildings Strategy. The Scottish Government announced that stages two and three of the consultation will be provided in a planned consultation on a proposed regulatory framework for heat and energy

efficiency; this is now live.

The 2021 consultation focused on the addition of a delivered energy metric to domestic EPCs. Following engagement and feedback from the consultation and further policy development, the Scottish Government is considering alternatives.

The existing EPC is based on two metrics:

n Energy Efficiency Rating (£): Based on running cost (£ per m2)

n Environmental Impact Rating: Based on emissions (kg CO2e per m2)

The consultation proposes adding a third metric, to inform dwelling owners about their property’s energy use. This metric would be called ‘Energy Use Rating’ and would be based on kWh/M²/year. The other two metrics would be retained but renamed as ‘Energy Cost Rating’ and ‘Carbon Emissions Rating’ to provide better clarity.

Summary of the New Consultation

Following further research and the numerous responses to the 2021 consultation, the Scottish Government has now published a new consultation with the following proposals:

Domestic EPCs

n Fabric Rating - This would provide a clear rating of the dwelling’s fabric efficiency, i.e., the energy required to be supplied by the heating system to achieve standardised internal conditions.

n Cost Rating - Presenting a 0100 rating index rather than a £/m2/yr indicator, as the latter could suggest predicted running costs to homeowners (which is not the case).

n Heating System Type - To include information about the efficiency of the system with the potential to introduce a classification of heating systems from high efficiency zero direct emission heating systems to heating systems with direct emissions.

In addition, the Scottish Government also proposes that the EPC displays:

n The Emissions Rating; and,

n The Energy Use Indicator.

The Emission Rating and Energy Use Indicator are not intended to be used as headline metrics but will provide useful information to stakeholders. Beyond the metrics listed above, it is intended that the EPC with provide a clear description of the energy efficiency features of the dwelling, which will be displayed as a list.

Non-Domestic EPCs

The Scottish Government proposes to present the following set of metrics on Non-Domestic EPCs:

n Energy Rating (A to G)based on modelled emissions relative to a reference building to align with the rating system used across the UK.

n Direct Emissions (kg of CO2e/m2/yr) – the building’s modelled direct emissions to allow a focus on the decarbonisation of individual buildings.

n Energy Use (kWh/m2/yr)the building’s modelled energy use under standardised conditions to allow comparisons between buildings.

In addition to this, they propose to make the heating system type and fuel more prominent on the EPC.

The Scottish Government has highlighted once again that EPCs have a key role to play as a first step towards improving energy efficiency and achieving zero direct emissions.

Validity Period

The consultation proposes reducing the EPC’s validity period from ten years to five. This would mean that an updated EPC would be needed at the current trigger points (such as a sale or let to a new tenant) if one has not been issued in the last five years. This is intended to provide prospective owners and tenants with more up-to-date information about the building.

Additional Proposals

The Scottish Government is also keen to from the PDF EPC to a more digital solution and update the Framework for Approved Organisations to include smart auditing, similar to what is already seen in England and Wales.

Alongside an updated EPC format, the modernisation of the EPC Register offers the potential to improve the use of EPC data. Making full use of this dataset offers significant advantages to those involved in delivering Net Zero.

The Scottish Government proposes to introduce the reformed EPC shortly after amended Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations are introduced this winter, ahead of proposed Heat in Buildings regulations being introduced.

Northern Ireland Building Regulations: Consultation

On 26th July 2023, the Department of Finance issued a new consultation covering revisions to Technical Booklets F1 and F2 of the Northern Irish Building Regulations. The consultation forms Phase 2 of the Executive’s Energy Strategy - Path to Net Zero Energy (December 2021). The revisions to the standards that result from it will form Phase 3 in a series of uplifts to Part F expected towards the end of 2024. The consultation closes on the 15th of November 2023.

The consultation covers standards for both Domestic and NonDomestic buildings, and many of the proposals are similar to recent changes seen in other regions of the UK.

Domestic buildings:

For new Domestic buildings the most notable proposed changes are as follows:

n Introduction of Primary Energy and Fabric Energy Efficiency compliance standards alongside the retained Carbon Emissions standard.

n New notional dwelling removing the requirement for manual checks that were introduced in TB F1 2022.

n Removal of fuel factors to encourage the transition to low-carbon heating systems.

n Adoption of the SAP 10 methodology for the calculation of compliance metrics.

n Mandatory air tightness testing for all new build dwellings.

n Introduction of BREL type compliance report and requirement for on-site photographic evidence.

n New standards to mitigate the risk of overheating in new homes with simplified and dynamic simulation modelling options available to demonstrate compliance.

Jason Hewins, New Build Dwellings Support Manager, comments:

“Elmhurst applauds the Northern Irish Government for continuing to improve the standards for energy efficiency of buildings in Northern Ireland. Many of the proposals have been implemented successfully in other areas of the UK. We particularly welcome the move to the latest version of the SAP methodology to reflect more up-to-date cost, carbon, and primary energy factors.

Non-Domestic buildings:

The current version of SBEM software being used for Energy Performance Certificates in

Northern Ireland is 4.1h. For England and Wales, the most recent software version is 6.1e. This is a significant disparity with the software that has existed for several years.

The new consultation seeks views from active members in the industry to see if moving the Northern Ireland software in line with England and Wales could be beneficial. Replication of England and Wales standards can aid with training, familiarity, and software use. Implementation of proposed changes noted in this consultation could be incorporated more quickly and effectively should this adoption of similar software and standards be accepted.

Other notable proposed changes for new Non-Domestic buildings include:

n Emissions improvement.

n Building fabric/materials quality improvement.

n Efficiencies improvement.

n Overheating improvement.

n Further implementation and better use of renewables/heat pumps.

n Introduction of the Primary Energy metric.

Those familiar with the SAP methodology and software changes last year may already be familiar with the above topics. As the industry moves towards a Net Zero emission target, all the above topics combine to lead us on that path which will be defined further as we head towards the 2025 Future Homes proposals. Improving new build construction quality and treating existing building improvements similarly is the overall goal this consultation hopes to achieve.

John Robinson, Non-Domestic Scheme Manager, comments:

“Elmhurst agrees that there is a great benefit in bringing the regional standards together. Through daily conversations with assessors, we have found that many individuals would prefer this solution as it would aid in technical guidance, adoption of conventions procedures, and maintaining auditing processes.”

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PAS2035 Software Solutions

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By digitising the process and eliminating paper-based surveys, we ensure projects remain efficiently on track while upholding complex compliance standards, allowing companies to retrofit at scale.

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n Peace of mind to complete and install any risk pathway project by using our in-house Retrofit Coordination Service.

n Lodge jobs straight into the TrustMark Data Warehouse via your Elmhurst accreditation

With ECO Surv, delivering energy efficiency has never been easier.

Adaptability and Flexibility Built-In

Founded in 2013, we emerged from firsthand experience of the chaotic delivery of government energy efficiency schemes and the need to keep pace with everchanging schemes and standards. And our latest version of the platform (V3) does just that.

As new schemes emerge or standards change, our software can easily change, adapt, and adjust in real time without the need to start from the ground up each time. Anticipating and promptly responding to industry and customer demands has resulted in a sustainable and resilient product with a backend structure that effortlessly evolves with the times.

n The ECO Surv platform ensures our customers are compliant to whatever standard or scheme they are delivering to. We manage the complex compliance requirements, so our customers don’t have to.

n We excel in building required forms swiftly, ensuring a matter of business days turnaround rather than weeks. Whether it's newly mandated forms or bespoke customerrequested forms, our team delivers with remarkable speed and efficiency.

Multi-Scheme Support

With flexibility and adaptability at the heart of our platform, we can therefore provide multi-scheme support - and at speed. GBIS is the latest scheme we've been supporting, but we're currently aiding multiple Government energy efficiency initiatives at once.

From SHDF and LAD to HUG and

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Market data

By Amo Sihra, Head

Existing Dwellings

Existing Dwellings Volume of EPC lodgements and residential house sales on a rolling 12 month basis (by quarter).

Turning this data into a digestible form takes time and requires a detailed understanding of context. In each edition of Energy Matters, we provide you with a snapshot of this data, with a brief commentary, which we hope you find of interest and can help you prepare for the future.

COVID-19 has obviously had a major impact on the construction, housing, and energy assessment markets which is reflected in each of the charts. Some of the data related to new build homes within the devolved authorities has not been updated since December 2020 and estimates have been used.

Commentary

For the last five years, house sales have been relatively consistent at around 1.19 million per year. Due to COVID the market fell away in March 2020, but recovered by July and has continued to grow dramatically ever since, with volumes only starting to fall again from Dec 2021. Volumes in the 12 months before September 2021 peaked, hitting 1.55M (17% higher than the previous peak in March 2016, and 30% up on normal). In the 12 months prior to June 2023, volumes have been declining, with a figure of 1.15M and below the 1.19M figure.

The volume of EPCs peaked in the 12 months prior to May 2014, driven in large by ECO. This fell back sharply to a low of 1.2 Million in March 2018. Two years of recovery peaked again in February 2020 with year-on-year growth of 11%, largely due to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the Private Rental Sector. Since March 2020 (1.63M) the volumes have dropped significantly but are now back on a level above pre-COVID times, of 1.72M. There are many other reasons for an EPC to be completed, such as those for social housing as well as ECO4. The Local Authority Delivery Scheme and work funded by the decarbonisation fund, are likely to boost demand. Government initiatives, such as MEES should also continue to drive up the demand for EPCs. Normally when we see EPCs (blue line) on the increase, this would indicate that house sales will also increase. From the graph, we can see this is not the case and shows that the other reasons for EPCs are driving up demand.

At Elmhurst we collect and analyse data from many sources in the belief that it helps us make better business decisions.

n Volume of EPC lodgements on a 12 month rolling basis n Volume of Residential housesales on a 12 month rolling basis

of Commercial

New Build / On Construction

New Build / On Construction Volume of residential house starts and completions on a rolling 12 month basis (by quarter).

Non Domestic

Non-Domestic/Commercial buildings Non-residential (commercial) property sales in the UK on a 12 month rolling basis. Volume of commercial property EPCs in the UK on a rolling 12 month basis.

n Volume of residential house starts on a rolling 12 month basis

n Volume of residential house completion on a rolling 12 month basis

Data for Scotland and Wales is estimated since December 2020. Volume of On Construction (new build residential) EPCs in the UK issued on a rolling 12 month basis.

n Volume of Commercial property EPCs in the UK on a rolling 12 month basis

n Non residential (commercial) property sales in the UK on a 12 month rolling basis

Commentary

More recently, we can see that the non-domestic sales have been falling. Commercial sales have recovered well and are now 22% above the lows of January 2021 and 7% down from the peak of October 2017. Whilst EPCs are issued for reasons other than property sales, they have continued to grow massively and are now 100% above the low of March 2021. The market has recovered extremely well, with the blue line shows a strong upward trend for Non-Domestic EPCs. We can see that the sales for non-domestic properties (red line) are slightly falling and therefore very likely the demand is mainly being driven by other reasons such as the MEES regulations.

n Volume of on-construction (new build residential) EPCs in the UK issued on a rolling 12 month basis

Commentary

Since COVID-19, house starts have recovered quickly and hit a new peak in June 2021 of 217,000 and since have fallen by 6% to 203,000. The volume of EPCs in the last twelve months has recovered to 293,000 from its low of 246,000 (up 19%). Volumes peaked in February 2020 at 302,000 and are currently only 3% down from the peak figure, showing some growth.

Non-Domestic/Commercial buildings

6 Reasons Why You Should Use The Improvement Evaluator Tool

Improvement Evaluator is Elmhurst Energy’s brand-new energy assessment tool that allows Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) to model a range of recommendations, including less common options, such as heat pumps.

The software is flexible to allow assessors to model an unlimited amount of scenarios and produce detailed reports that collate recommendations. It is important to note that the reports generated are not Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs); they are energy reports that can be used to improve the advice assessors can give to their clients.

How can the Improvement Evaluator benefit my Energy Assessments?

With Improvement Evaluator, DEAs can significantly enhance their energy assessment services. This powerful tool enables assessors to provide expert advice and offer greater flexibility to homeowners in selecting viable energy efficiency improvements. The benefits of using the Improvement Evaluator are extensive:

1. Support landlords in meeting Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations: The tool assists energy assessors in identifying and recommending energy efficiency measures that can help landlords uplift their properties to the required standard.

2. Model and select energy efficiency improvement measures and scenarios: The Improvement Evaluator allows

assessors to model various energy efficiency improvement measures and scenarios. Assessors can analyse different options, such as insulation upgrades, Heating system replacements, or renewable energy installations, to determine the most effective solutions for each homeowner’s unique situation.

3. Enter specific costs for recommendations: Assessors

can input approximate installation costs for recommended improvements. This flexibility ensures that homeowners can make informed decisions based on realistic costs and budget constraints.

4. Generate a professional report for clients that is fully insured and Elmhurst quality assured: With Improvement Evaluator, assessors can generate a comprehensive Recommendation Improvement Report for their clients. These reports are not only professionally designed but also fully insured and quality-assured by Elmhurst, ensuring confidence in the accuracy and reliability of the recommendations.

5. Create unlimited scenarios: Assessors can create an unlimited number of scenarios within Improvement Evaluator. This feature allows for a thorough exploration of different improvement options, empowering assessors to find the optimal solution for each homeowner.

6. Elevate the services you provide: By using Improvement Evaluator’s key features, Assessors can deliver more comprehensive and valuable guidance for homeowners when it comes to the energy performance of their property.

How can assessors make the most of this new tool?

Joanne Bailey, DEA Technical Consultant and Trainer, comments

“This fantastic new tool enables assessors to create different packages of recommendation scenarios for their clients. The final product is a professional looking energy report that comes fully insured and Elmhurst quality assured.

For example, if a client has 6 recommendations on an EPC or Energy report, the Improvement Evaluator software can be used to gauge what the rating or savings would be by choosing just one or a few of the recommendations.

Unlimited ‘scenarios’ can be created and displayed on the final report and the cost of implementing the recommendation can also be included. Recommendations that may not have shown up on the original EPC or Energy Report can also be included, even if they may not have generated enough of a saving when the initial report was created.

‘Alternative’ recommendations are also an option which can include heat pumps and biomass boilers.”

Training Update: Empowering Our Energy Assessor Community for a Greener Future

By Josh Wakeling, Head of Training

Fuelling Success with the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training (HDST) Fund

I am immensely proud to announce the resounding success of the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training (HDST) Funded courses we offered. Your unwavering support and engagement have allowed us to introduce a number of new Domestic Energy Assessors and Retrofit Assessors to the industry, all at highly subsidised costs. This incredible feat addresses the surging demand for green skills in

the UK retrofit market. Together, we are not just adapting to change, but driving it, ensuring that our profession remains at the forefront of sustainability and Net Zero progress.

Phase 2: HDST Funding Announced

Building on this momentum, I am thrilled to see Phase 2 of the HDST Fund released last month. DESNZ will invest more than £8m into training energy efficiency and retrofit professionals to boost the green skills supply chain and move towards the UK’s Net Zero targets. This next phase promises

an even greater impact. Investment in green skills will result in improved energy efficiency and save hundreds of pounds on bills for homeowners. It is very clear that energy efficiency remains the best approach to reducing fuel poverty in the long term.

Pioneering Sustainability with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Training

In our shared journey towards a more sustainable world, I am thrilled to introduce our On Demand Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) CPD Training. This comprehensive webinar equips you with insight into assessing the full environmental impact of products and processes within the new build sector, from the start of their lives to the end. Discover more about our LCA Training program at: www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk/produ ct/life-cycle-assessment-training Mitesh Nathwani, Training Manager, comments:

“Overall, the industry is doing exceptionally well and has been doing so for a couple of years now. It has withstood the pandemic, increasing interest rates, and various other obstacles, which shows the strength of our sector and the confidence in it. We have seen substantial growth all around and the merger with Stroma Certification has only helped make us bigger and better. It has also enabled us to improve our offerings in terms of training and CPD courses by bringing together a wealth of knowledge to help keep our offerings the best around.”

I am thrilled to share some remarkable achievements and exciting opportunities that are shaping the landscape of energy assessment practices.

For further information about the services that Elmhurst Energy provides please visit: www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk or call: 01455 883 250