INDUSTRY NEWS Inbrief
The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) has announced an evolved brand identity and clearer brand architecture designed to reflect the accelerating transformation of the nation’s energy system. The refresh emphasises EUA’s role in advancing energy for homes and businesses by uniting specialist groups, amplifying members’ voices and shaping policy.
www.eua.org.uk
Nearly 30 organisations across the UK’s energy, transport, and built environment sectors, have launched a new Climate Commitment, developed by BEAMA, aimed at strengthening aligned, measurable and accountable progress toward Net Zero.
www.beama.org.uk
Hive has announced a partnership with heat pump manufacturer Daikin through its Works With Hive programme, significantly expanding smart control compatibility with air source heat pumps and strengthening support for the UK’s growing low-carbon heating market.
www.hivehome.com
www.daikin.co.uk
Eva Karlsson has been appointed as chief executive of Swegon Group as of last month. She served as interim chief since February 1. Eva has extensive experience in leading international industrial firms and has successfully developed the Business Area Air Handling, Cooling & Heating at Swegon.
www.swegon.com
BESA has welcomed the government’s decision to move forward with a ban on retentions in construction contracts, describing it as a landmark and long-awaited victory for specialist contractors across the UK.
www.thebesa.com
Whilst publishing the Future Homes Standard last month, the government also announced plans to roll out plug-in solar panels for households within months.
https://www.gov.uk
BSRIA has released its latest analysis on Europe’s HVAC field devices market, reporting growth driven by regulatory pressures, digitalisation and the drive for better building performance.
www.bsria.com
INDUSTRY BACKING FOR LONG-AWAITED FUTURE HOMES STANDARD
T
he industry has reacted positively to the publication last month of the Future Homes Standard which sets out how new homes will deliver heat and hot
water in the future The Energy & Utilitities Alliance (EUA) described the
publication as a long-awaited step that finally provides clarity for industry and developers. Commenting on the publication, Mike Foster, chief
executive of EUA, said: “After a prolonged wait, it is good to finally see the Future Homes Standard published. Certainty is essential for long term investment, and today’s announcement provides exactly that. We have always anticipated that new build properties would be where technologies such as heat pumps and heat networks become mainstream. “Manufacturers and infrastructure providers can now
move forward with confidence, knowing what government expects of them. With clear direction, businesses across the supply chain are better placed to invest in their future. “Drawing a distinction between new build requirements and those of the retrofit market is key to a sensible home decarbonisation agenda. New homes can more easily be built to a lower carbon standard, each exiting home is a bespoke unit, requiring a variety of solutions. That’s an important lesson that I hope government has now accepted.” Ben Perris, director for indoor climate solutions at Wavin
said: “The commitments are absolutely the right signal, confirming what the sector already knows – that low carbon heating is the future. “Our challenge now is to make sure this standard works efficiently in practice, as well as in principle. Heat pumps, for example, can only deliver their full potential when supported by the right complementary systems. We need to go further and implement solutions that support whole life performance – from low temperature underfloor heating to mechanical ventilation. These elements will support the delivery of homes that are comfortable, efficient and genuinely future proof.
Neal Herbert, Managing Director for GTC, said: “We
have been planning for this moment for many years. The decarbonisation of heat has long been on the political agenda, which is why we proactively designed and delivered not one but two scalable renewable heat network solutions for our housebuilder partners. “Our Community Heat Hubs and Networked Ground Source Heat Pump systems directly align with the core technologies outlined in the Standard, combining efficiency, flexibility and long-term sustainability. Jeff House, director of external affairs and policy at Baxi, said: “Effectively new dwellings and non-domestic buildings will be required to adopt low carbon heating technology to comply. Functional changes will be enacted through Building
Regulations with new versions of Approved Documents L and F, although owing to transitional arrangements March 2028 will be the pivotal moment where change really happens in practice.
“Heat pumps and low carbon heat networks will become the norm here and we are well placed to provide a fully engineered solution with our extensive UK product, training and aftersales support offer. “We also welcome the requirement to include a defined amount of on-site generation through solar PV which will help to reduce running costs of what will be fully electrified properties.” Dan Marsden, director of renewables at Wolseley Group, said: “It brings long overdue clarity and aligns with the government’s ambition to accelerate housebuilding while raising the bar on energy performance. “For installers, this marks a clear shift in where the market is heading. Demand for heat pump expertise in new build will accelerate quickly, and those who invest in skills and accreditation now will be best placed to benefit. “The opportunity is significant, but so is the need for
support, training and confidence to make that transition. “The focus must now shift quickly to delivery. Getting the detail of implementation right will be critical if we are to future-proof new homes and avoid creating challenges further down the line. That means ensuring installers are trained at pace, supply chains are resilient, and the policy framework remains stable. Nick Houghton-Best, national head of new builds at Daikin UK said the announcement “provides much-needed clarity and sends a strong signal to the industry that it must prioritise sustainable alternatives over polluting and inefficient fossil fuel boilers. It is clear that heat pumps have a central role in delivering on the Government’s housebuilding and net zero priorities. “When combined with solar panels, an air-to-water heat
pump can create one of the most efficient home-energy systems available. Solar can generate much of the electricity used to power the system, further reducing bills and emissions. In some configurations, solar can offset nearly all of the electricity required for heating and hot water.
6 April 2026
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