Consider switching to ‘alternative’ and ‘renewable’ systems for new homes

Updated: 26 June 2022

Use all-electric and low-carbon equipment

You should now consider using ‘alternative’ all-electric and low-carbon technologies and ‘renewable’ non-fossil fuel sources of energy to help achieve the 31% reduction in emissions.

They can both be used to heat, power and ventilate new homes so they use less energy, produce lower carbon emissions and meet the new regulations.

Find out more in Section 6 of Approved Document L (‘Part L’).

Adapt your design process

You must consider the environmental, economical and technical suitability of using high-efficiency and decentralised systems which use renewable sources.

This must be done before building starts and can include:

• heat pumps
• district or block heating or cooling systems - particularly where they use energy from renewable sources and heat pump
• cogeneration systems which simultaneously produce 2 useful outputs - for example, heat and power
  
  

The regulations provide additional guidance around special provisions for district heating systems in terms of how their carbon emissions are calculated. 

Use efficient services and systems

As part of this, you must make sure commissioned fixed building services or on-site electricity generation systems perform as efficiently as possible.

This means they should:

• perform in accordance with the updated minimum requirements
• be appropriate in terms of sizing for their application 
• use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances.

Check new requirements and specifications

The new regulations update the minimum requirements and specifications for: 

• general and system specific controls for heating and how water systems
• district heating systems - in terms of how carbon emissions are calculated

The new regulations update limiting factors for standing losses for storage vessels used in heating or domestic hot water systems.

For example, pipework and emitters now need to be sized to allow space heating systems to operate effectively at a maximum flow temperature of 55°C or lower.

The notional dwelling specifications have also been updated.

Find out more in Section 1 of Approved Document L (‘Part L’).

Provide commissioning notice, plans and details

You must provide local building control with the following for any fixed building services or on-site electricity generation systems:

• your commissioning plans
• commissioning notice
• confirmation that commissioning has taken place in line with regulations

Your commissioning plans must include the design stage calculations for the following rates:

• primary energy rate
• carbon emission (CO2e) rate 
• fabric energy efficiency rate
  
  

You may not get a final certificate unless you provide the correct documentation.

You must provide homeowners with details of any fluids (including their commissioned concentrations) used in the commissioning of heat pump systems. 

This should be provided as part of the home user guide.

Record your design decisions

You must document your decision-making throughout your design process.

Use this documentation to show SAP assessors and local building control your decisions and how your designs meet the new regulations.

Find out how to provide information for SAP assessors and building control.

Provide information for homeowners

You must also provide details for homeowners about how heating, power and ventilation systems are controlled and maintained within their new homes.

Find out how to provide homeowners with information about their new homes

Keep up to date

Use the Future Homes Hub to keep up to date with changes to the building regulations and the introduction of the Future Homes Standard.

Check what you need to do to meet the new regulations through our detailed guides.

Find out more

Find other new regulations in the official Approved Documents on GOV.UK:

• Conservation of fuel and power: Approved Document L - ‘Part L’
• Overheating: Approved Document O - ‘Part O’
• Ventilation: Approved Document F - ‘Part F’