New Homes to Cut Emissions by 75% from 2028
Homes constructed from March 2028 will emit 75% less greenhouse gases compared to those built under the 2013 standards, according to updated regulations in England known as the "future homes standard" (FHS). However, the government has postponed the implementation of these rules, delaying the transition to low-carbon housing.
Government Delays Amid Pressure from Housebuilders
Most new homes will be fitted with solar panels and heat pumps starting in 2028, but the government has eased plans for stricter regulations following pressure from housebuilding companies. A loophole in the regulations may also hinder the goal of achieving fully carbon-free homes.
The government is set to publish the FHS on Tuesday, which mandates that homes built from 2028 must generate 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than those built according to the 2013 standards.
Remaining Emissions and Regulatory Loopholes
Housing experts indicate that some of the remaining 25% of emissions will likely come from gas boilers, which are neither carbon-neutral in the short nor medium term but will still be permitted in new homes under the updated regulations.
Houses are expected to have solar panels covering an area equivalent to 40% of the ground floor, although exceptions will allow builders to install less in certain cases.
The government also announced that "plug-in" solar panels, which can be installed on balconies or outdoor spaces and are common in Germany but previously banned in the UK, will soon be available for purchase in the country.
Impact of Delay on Gas Heating and Energy Costs
The postponement of the FHS, initially expected to take effect next year, means that hundreds of thousands of new homes will continue to use gas heating despite rising costs linked to the conflict in Iran.
Data from last year by the MCS Foundation, a charity certifying low-carbon installations, showed that only 4,000 new-build homes out of approximately 140,000 were equipped with low-carbon electric heat pumps.
Jan Rosenow, professor of energy at the University of Oxford, told : "It is outrageous that people will be buying homes that are expensively heated with gas when we have perfectly good technology – heat pumps – that can be installed instead.
"Another two years of this really should not be happening. We are in a war, and a most severe energy crisis, and it would be perfectly easy to ensure all new homes have heat pumps now."
Future Homes Standard Development and Historical Context
The future homes standard has been under development for some time; it was delayed and was intended to replace a previous commitment by the last Labour government for a zero-carbon homes standard to be introduced from 2016, which was never implemented.
Housing experts caution that the government will need to resist pressure from housebuilders who may seek to meet new standards at minimal cost, potentially leading to higher expenses for homeowners in the future.
Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit thinktank, said: "The government is likely to have to continue to stand up to the housebuilders, who may attempt to reach new standards as cheaply as possible to maximise their profits, causing costs to homeowners later on."
Energy Savings and Benefits of New Standards
Households are expected to save approximately £1,000 annually on energy bills due to the new standards, according to Garry Felgate, chief executive of the MCS Foundation.
He said: "The confirmation that virtually all new homes in England will have solar panels and low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps is very good news – for energy security, for the UK’s progress toward a carbon-free future, and for the countless households that will benefit as a result."
Uncertainty Over Hydrogen for Home Heating
The government has not clarified whether hydrogen will be excluded as a future option for home heating, despite years of strong evidence against its viability.
Rosenow stated: "They should just rule out hydrogen for home heating, that would be the sensible thing to do."
Government Statement on Housing Quality and Energy Security
Housing Secretary Steve Reed commented on the plans, stating:
"Building 1.5m new homes also means building high-quality homes that are cheaper to run and warmer to live in.
As we make the switch to clean, homegrown energy, today’s standard is what the future of housing can and should look like.
Not only will these changes protect hard-working families from shocks abroad but will also slash hundreds of pounds off their energy bills every year."
