APPOINTMENTS & NEWS; THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE 37


users to understand precisely why results appear as they do. This clarity not only improves confi dence but also makes it possible to interrogate results in ways SAP cannot support. It also positions H to incorporate new technologies more effectively. For example, thermal batteries, which are now increasingly common, are not supported by SA at all, leaving assessors with no meaningful way to model them. H, built with modern energy systems in mind, can integrate these technologies and evolve with future innovations far more readily. The timeline for HEM’s introduction has shifted several times. The original intention was for HEM to launch at the same time as the new Future Homes Standard and updated art  uilding egulations. However, the overnment ultimately chose to delay HEM to avoid the risks associated with a simultaneous, sector-wide changeover. The current expectation is that the fi rst version will be released in summer 2026, with the new art  taking effect in . rom that point, there will be a two-year period of dual running during which housebuilders and developers can choose whether to use SAP or HEM for new projects. After this period, overnment is expected to announce a six-month notice window ahead of SAP’s withdrawal for new


sites, likely placing full adoption of H around 2029 or 2030.


It is also important to recognise that H will not be fully complete at launch. The fi rst release will not include  calculations or running cost assessments. These will be introduced in HEM Version Two, anticipated for late  or early . This staged rollout refl ects the model’s scale and complexity, as well as the need to build the training, accreditation and auditing frameworks that will surround it. Although the H technical engine is largely ready, it cannot be deployed until these industry-wide processes are established. Assessors will reuire training, conventions must be developed, and accreditation pathways need to be put in place. nlike previous SA updates, where most assessors could adapt with minimal effort, HEM involves a fundamentally different way of working and will therefore reuire dedicated upskilling.


Another factor accelerating the relevance of H is the upcoming reform of nergy erformance ertifi cates s planned for 2030. Under new rules, all privately rented and social housing will be reuired to meet revised  standards. rucially, SA will not be capable of producing s that comply with the


 framework. Any new s which are generated after the reforms come into force will reuire H.


Although existing s produced under SAP will remain valid, landlords and housing providers undertaking new assessments will need to ensure they are using H. This long-term shift makes early familiarisation with H particularly valuable for organisations with large or evolving portfolios. Overall, the Home nergy odel represents a long-awaited modernisation of how the  models energy use in new homes. y offering far greater accuracy, full transparency and the fl exibility to accommodate new and emerging technologies, it brings energy assessment into line with contemporary building practices and net ero ambitions. While the transition will reuire adjustment, including training, dual running and new accreditation processes, the benefi ts are substantial. With H expected to be fully integrated into regulation by the end of the decade, now is the moment for housebuilders, developers, assessors and landlords to begin preparing for a system which is designed for the future, not the past.


Jon Ponting is Future Homes Standard policy lead at AES Sustainability Consultants


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