Stewart Clements of HHIC highlights that while “Fabric First” is key in decarbonisation strategies, it needs further explanation. This approach is crucial for improving sustainable housing and tackling fuel poverty in the UK.
It’s important that those responsible for building new homes and for upgrading existing homes – including both social and private housing providers and landlords – recognise the different factors involved in minimising energy consumption and in making tomorrow’s homes the efficient properties needed to achieve decarbonisation and reach the net zero target for 2050.
Although broadly similar, it is essential to acknowledge that the way fuel poverty is measured differs between different countries in the UK. In England, fuel poverty strategy is focused specifically on prioritising low-income households for energy efficiency support. In Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, the fuel poverty strategies do not make this specific distinction.
Other main differences in the metrics include whether housing costs are accounted for and the heating standards used for vulnerable households.
The latest English Housing Survey Report (2022-2023) demonstrates quite clearly that existing homes still have a long way to go to improve insulation measures to reduce heat loss in domestic homes. This has a major influence on energy usage no matter what heating technology is used. It reports that 88% of homes in England are fitted with full double glazing compared to 79% in 2012, along with 52% of homes having cavity wall insulation which is an increase of 45% from the report produced in 2012. Perhaps surprisingly, only 38% of homes have 200 mm or more of loft insulation which the report advises is an increase of 34% compared to 2012.
If we conclude that double glazing has increased significantly in this time period, it leaves the two key measures that will be vital when planning for any heating and hot water system upgrade. The Energy Saving Trust advises that 25% of heat is lost through the roof of an uninsulated loft space. Reducing heat loss in homes lowers carbon emissions, so it makes sense to make low-carbon retrofitting easier which saves on household running costs. Older properties upgraded with double glazing, loft and wall insulation have significantly
lower heat demand. This makes them better suited to low temperature heating systems such as heat pumps, with potentially fewer heating system components changes required.
Although the Government has relaxed the requirement for insulation when installing a heat pump, we believe this is a false economy and consumers will be better advised to save money in the long term by insulating their home with at least 200 mm of loft insulation and have cavity wall insulation installed if double glazing is already installed. Those older homes built with solid walls could require financial support for measures such as external or internal wall insulation to help reduce heat loss – and the Government needs to have a plan on how to finance and encourage the consumer or their landlords to insulate houses built without a cavity.
There are five key factors that will minimise energy consumption by a heating system in your average home and directly influence the levels of fuel poverty that still exist in the UK. These include high quality insulation, increased air tightness, the avoidance of thermal bridging, maximising solar gain and the use of adequate ventilation. Insulation promotes heat retention and reduces heat loss. Air leakage through gaps in the building envelope should also be considered. Thermal bridging allows an easier path for heat loss. Address these five key factors and you are addressing fuel poverty levels.
The future homes standard consultation considers two options for new build properties, one with increased insulation compared to the current Part L regulation. The alternative has higher levels of insulation and the use of a mechanical ventilation system. We await the conclusion of which option will be chosen – likely to be later this year for introduction in 2025.
Another benefit towards energy saving that has been recognised by the Government in the recent Boiler Efficiency Consultation is that energy saving can be achieved by regular servicing of heating systems. The first step is likely to be a new requirement for servicing of heating systems in the 2025 Building Regulations. While not a new topic, there is an asymmetry in that tenants in social housing have to have their boilers and heating systems serviced once every twelve months by law, but private homeowners do not. If purely from a safety point of view it seems illogical that there is not a blanket requirement for heating systems to be serviced every year.
This coupled with the new Benchmark Online Platform that provides a tool for recording the details of any heating appliance when it is installed has the added benefit of providing a service record for a home heating and hot water system – an effective ‘MOT’ equivalent for home heating and hot water when you buy and sell a home.
The Fabric First approach on the road to decarbonisation is critical, as is the requirement to maintain efficiency through an annual heating and hot water system service, required by law in every home. Reducing Fuel Poverty in the UK must be a priority for the new Government as it moves forward in its attempts to hit Net Zero by 2050 and to make significant inroads into that target in the next ten years.
Stewart Clements is director at HHIC