The initial findings from an innovative research collaboration involving the University of Salford, leading housebuilders Barratt Developments and Bellway Homes, and construction solutions provider Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland, have recently been made public, marking the first anniversary of the project. These findings promise to significantly enhance the understanding within the industry regarding the implementation of the Future Homes Standard, offering valuable insights into the feasibility of delivering sustainable housing on a large scale.
Preliminary results suggest that by 2025, the Future Homes Standard could indeed be achieved at scale, provided that the supply chain for key components can keep up and adequate skills training remains accessible.
In January 2023, the final reports were published from the extensive testing of the two within the innovative Energy House 2.0 climate chamber. This unique facility can simulate environmental conditions mirroring 95% of the Earth’s inhabited land, encompassing temperatures ranging from -20°C to 40°C, along with rain, wind, snow, and solar radiation. The testing was made possible in part through funding from Greater Manchester’s Innovation Accelerator programme.
These initial results of the project focus on the performance of the houses in terms of an overall ‘Heat Transfer Coefficient’ in addition to detailed studies if the individual fabric elements (walls, roof, floor, windows, and doors). These findings are instrumental in shaping a roadmap for housebuilders to construct zero-carbon new homes across the UK.
Scheduled to become the new Building Regulations for new homes in the UK starting from 2025, the Future Homes Standard mandates that all new homes must produce 80% fewer carbon emissions compared to homes built under the 2013 regulations. Homes built to these standards are expected to surpass the efficiency levels of the average UK housing stock, offering financial benefits to households through reduced running costs and contributing to environmental sustainability by lowering carbon emissions.
Since January 2023, researchers have been evaluating two distinct prototypes: “The Future Home” by Bellway Homes and “eHome2” by Barratt Developments/Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland. Both houses are three-bedroom homes constructed using high-performance, energy-efficient materials.
Initial findings from fabric testing indicate that these homes have demonstrated resilience against extreme climates, which are becoming increasingly prevalent. Despite variations in construction methods, both homes exhibited a marginal difference of up to 8% between anticipated and actual performance under climate-controlled conditions, positioning them among the most efficient homes tested in research settings.
Professor Richard Fitton from Energy House 2.0 at the University of Salford emphasised the significance of the construction sector’s ability to deliver future homes standards houses at scale over the next decade. Fitton underscored the collaborative efforts between Barratt Developments, Bellway Homes, and Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland as ground-breaking for the industry.
Oliver Novakovic, Technical & Innovation Director at Barratt Developments, expressed satisfaction with the initial testing of eHome2, highlighting its positive impact on running costs and acknowledging the project’s role in identifying areas for improvement in skills and technology.
Jamie Bursnell, Group Technical & Innovations Manager at Bellway Homes, echoed this sentiment, stating that the results of fabric testing provide confidence in their ability to deliver homes at scale under the Future Homes Standard.
Mike Chaldecott, CEO of Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland, lauded the exceptional performance of eHome2 and outlined plans to develop sustainable housebuilding systems based on the project’s findings.
Moving forward, ongoing research will focus on optimising heating, hot water, and living conditions using low carbon technologies. Subsequent testing will assess the effectiveness of various electrified heating systems within the homes.
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