Thoughtful, fast-growing force in sustainable consultancy harnessing analytical theory to deliver multiple projects. Rightly gaining national recognition.
Judges, Bristol Property Awards 2025
A proactive Future Homes Standard assessment informed by SAP 10.3 modelling can mean the difference between a smooth transition to the 2027 regulations and facing unexpected, costly redesigns.
The Future Homes Standard (FHS) is the most significant overhaul to Building Regulations in a decade. Coming into effect on 24 March 2027, it mandates a 75-80% reduction in carbon emissions, effectively ends the use of gas boilers in new dwellings, and introduces strict new mandates for solar PV and low-carbon heating. While the government finalises the framework for the new Home Energy Model (HEM), SAP 10.3 has been approved as the interim bridge tool to demonstrate compliance – leaving developers who wait until 2027 to understand the impact on their standard house types facing real commercial risk, from failed compliance to late-stage redesign costs.
We model standard house types against FHS targets using SAP 10.3, giving developers an evidenced, actionable route through the transition rather than a late surprise. Our reports explore different specification routes – balancing fabric performance against renewable and heating technology – so you can find the most cost-effective way to hit the new performance levels well ahead of the 2027 deadline. Please see our FAQs below for more information.
Why work with us?
Experience
We’ve already applied Future Homes Standard modelling to live client work: SAP 10.3 assessments of standard house types for Woodstock Homes and Cotswold Homes, and FHS modelling for a specific development for Acorn Property Group. That work sits on top of years spent modelling Part L specifications against regulatory targets – stress-testing house types to catch localised compliance failures before they reach site, and navigating complex layout constraints to secure valid solar PV roof-space exemptions under Part L.
Award-winning
Winner, Consultancy – 2025 Bristol Property Awards.
Winner, Supply Chain Partner of the Year – 2025 Unlock Net Zero Awards.
Winner, Retrofit Assessor of the Year – 2023 Retrofit Academy Awards.
Highly Commended, Employer of the Year – 2023 Retrofit Academy Awards
Speed
Project deadlines matter. We manage all data collection, modelling and reporting in-house – keeping your project moving without administrative delays.
We work to a standard two-week turnaround, with the majority of reports and certificates delivered well within that window.
Pricing
Cost depends on the scale and complexity of the project – from a single property to a large-scale portfolio.
Our rate card is reviewed regularly, so we’re confident you won’t find better value elsewhere. If you’ve found a lower quote for comparable work, let us know – we’ll match or beat it.
Support
Energy efficiency, decarbonisation and building regulation can be genuinely complex.
We work hard to explain a range of topics related to the Future Homes Standard in plain English to help non-experts get the information they need.
Get Your Future Homes Standard Modelling Quote Today
Looking for fast and reliable Future Homes Standard Modelling in Bristol or nationwide?
Contact us today for a free quote and to discuss your specific project requirements.
We’ve been very impressed with Building Energy Experts on all of our developments. We have found them to be very responsive to our queries and always happy to accommodate any further requests. We recently had an instance of an Energy Consultant going AWOL and urgently required a replacement Energy Consultant. BEE were able to quickly provide a quotation and were appointed within the same day of our initial enquiry.
Ryan Walker, Technical Manager at Woodstock Homes – Part L, F & O compliance services
Their information is always clearly represented, whether that’s in their Sustainability & Energy Statements submitted for Planning or SAP Input Summaries supporting their Design SAPs. I would without doubt, consider BEE, to be one of our preferred Energy Consultants.
Understanding Future Homes Standard Modelling: Your Questions Answered
When do FHS rules take effect, and how do transitional rules work?
The Future Homes Standard comes into force on 24 March 2027 (24 September 2027 for Higher-Risk Buildings). Transitional protection is plot-by-plot, not site-wide: per Building Circular 01/2026, a building control application must be submitted before 24 March 2027, and physical work – specifically the ground-floor structure, per Regulation 46A’s definition of “commencement” – must begin on that individual plot within 12 months, by 24 March 2028. Registering an entire site in bulk no longer protects unbuilt future phases; each plot has to actually commence to keep current Part L standards.
What does your FHS Modelling process involve?
Every project includes the same core deliverables:
– Baseline Portfolio Gap Analysis – evaluating your current house types against upcoming FHS targets to pinpoint exact performance gaps. On one recent new-build house type, we found the existing specification passed the DER, DPER and DFEE criteria but failed the SAP requirement outright – the design’s solar PV provision was roughly a third of what FHS demands.
– Renewable Mandate Planning – calculating required solar PV footprints and mapping compliance paths, including split-orientation layouts where roof space forces panels across multiple faces.
– Heating & Ventilation Review – technical guidance on transitioning to Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) and dMEV systems within the strict new Specific Fan Power (SFP) limits. On the same project, the specified DMEV failed the 0.30 W/(l/s) SFP limit in kitchen extract, meaning a straight product swap was needed before the design could pass.
– Thermal Bridging & Window Assessments – evaluating configuration-based window U-values and junction details to determine whether your house types will need triple glazing to hit the 1.2 W/m²K notional target.
Will FHS force us to install solar PV on every plot?
The baseline specification mandates on-site renewable electricity generation. However, under Section 5.7 of Approved Document L, if a plot genuinely lacks the roof area to hit the minimum target (due to orientation or shading), developers can bypass it by submitting maximum-fit design schematics to Building Control, provided core building targets are still met. We can model these layouts to help secure valid exemptions.
Are gas boilers completely banned under the new standard?
The regulation doesn’t contain a literal, explicit “ban” on gas technology, but it reduces the allowable Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) so drastically that traditional fossil-fuel systems can’t pass compliance. Low-carbon heating – primarily Air Source Heat Pumps – becomes the default across the industry in practice.
Will the new standard require us to use triple glazing?
The FHS moves to configuration-based U-value calculations – assessing a window’s actual size and frame layout rather than a standardised reference size. Because of this added accuracy, many glazed window and door configurations will likely need triple glazing to comfortably clear the strict 1.2 W/m²K notional target. Proactive modelling helps find the most cost-effective balance between fabric and technology.
What’s the difference between SAP 10.3 and the Home Energy Model (HEM)?
SAP 10.3 is an interim tool bridging the gap while HEM’s infrastructure is finalised. Legacy SAP relies on static monthly calculations; HEM uses half-hourly simulation cycles and abandons “UK-average” climate assumptions for 16 distinct regional climate datasets. Because of this, a house type that passes in the South West might fail in the North East – proactive modelling lets you spot regional compliance variations early.
How heavily will FHS disrupt housebuilders already using heat pumps and high-performance fabric?
Targets are significantly tougher, with a large reduction in allowable regulated carbon emissions. But housebuilders already using high-performance fabric and heat pumps may only need modest adjustments to solar provision to comply. Modelling your house types now lets your commercial teams lock in supply chains and adjust land viability appraisals with confidence rather than guessing.
How will upcoming 2027 EPC reforms affect new-build marketing?
Anticipated in the second half of 2027, EPCs will move from a single A–G letter grade to a multi-metric system independently rating Fabric (Heat Retention), Heat (System Efficiency), Smart (Readiness), and Cost (Running Costs). No home with a primary fossil-fuel space or water heating system will be able to score higher than a “C” in the heat efficiency category. A valid EPC will also be required at the point a property is marketed, not just at the final point of sale or letting.
Need Future Homes Standard Modelling Services?
Our friendly team is ready to provide expert advice for your project. Whether you need a free consultation to discuss your options or a competitive quote for our modelling services, we are here to help.
