VOICES | JULIE GODEFROY Get the house in order After the submission of the Part L and Future Homes Standard response, CIBSEs Julie Godefroy outlines the next steps for housing policy C DR JULIE GODEFROY is technical manager at CIBSE IBSEs response to the Part L and Future Homes Standard is in. It was supported by a huge level of interest among members, and done in collaboration with organisations including the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI), RIBA, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), and the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC). This showed an impressive level of consensus on key aspects: The need for more ambition, improved fabric requirements, and attention to whole-energy consumption and the in-use stage Allowing leadership from local authorities to implement more onerous carbon-reduction requirements, subject to local viability testing The need to produce the Future Homes Standard as soon as possible, to allow early adopters, and help develop expertise and supply chains. This must include not only energy and carbon aspects, but also hand in hand Part F proposals to ensure good indoor air quality at improved airtightness levels Concerns about peak electricity demand and fuel-poverty impacts, which could result from reduced fabric performance and direct electric heating. Next steps The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will produce a summary analysis of the responses when is not yet known. It is currently not expected to make all submissions available, although it is possible that interested parties will submit a Freedom of Information request. After this, MHCLG will either publish the final Part L and Part F 2020 versions or if changes that were not in the original consultation are proposed a further consultation. The latter would probably need to happen to implement the sort of changes CIBSE has been recommending. We are expecting a consultation soon on the Part L elements for non-domestic and existing buildings, and (from BEIS) on operational ratings for non-domestic buildings (for example, Display Energy Certificates, DECs). Get in touch at technical@cibse.org if you are interested in being involved and, in particular, if you have data on in-use performance, and thoughts on changes to the National Calculation Methodology to relate more closely to in-use energy consumption. You can also support CIBSEs efforts by signing the Building Performance Network statement on operational performance, and committing to monitor and disclose the energy performance of the buildings you occupy (for example, through a voluntary DEC). A further consultation would probably need to happen to implement the sort of changes CIBSE has been recommending PARASOL Zenith Ready for change SITE D ON E SOLV High performance 4-way distribution comfort module with cooling, heating and ventilation. PARASOL Zenith offers all the benefits of active chilled beam technology with added flexibly throughout your project. With the options of constant, variable or demand control air flow, PARASOL Zenith provides the perfect indoor climate. 28 March 2020 Parasol Zenith Ad Folderwww.cibsejournal.com CIBSE.indd 1 CIBSE Mar20 pp28-29 Julie Godefroy.indd 28 13/02/2020 15:45:45 21/02/2020 14:50