According to Prian, the new Future Homes Standard regulation effectively puts an end to the era of traditional heating: in two years’ time, the installation of solar panels and heat pumps will be a requirement for the delivery of any new home in England.
The reason for the drastic tightening of the rules was the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East and the largest disruption to oil supplies in history. Energy Minister Ed Miliband emphasized that the UK intends to “break free from the influence of uncontrolled fossil fuel markets”.
According to the approved Future Homes Standard, by 2028, every new building in England must be equipped with systems that allow on-site electricity generation. The main focus is on solar generation and modern heat networks, which will replace the usual gas boilers, the source said.
Solar panels to the balcony
One of the most discussed innovations was the legalization of “balcony” solar panels. Already in the coming months in British stores will appear in compact systems that do not require complex installation: it is enough to fix them on the balcony and plug them into a regular socket.
This solution is aimed at supporting residents of existing apartment buildings who want to reduce their costs in the face of the energy crisis without waiting for major building renovations.
Giving up gas is inevitable
Despite the support of the energy sector and climate scientists, the reform has sparked controversy in parliament. The opposition is urging the government to look beyond green measures and focus on developing its own fields in the North Sea to promptly reduce tariffs.
Nevertheless, analysts are confident: the current geopolitical risks make abandoning gas inevitable. For the real estate market, this means an increase in the cost of construction in the short term, but a significant increase in the liquidity and energy efficiency of British homes in the future.
How the EU is dealing with the problem
In 2023, the European Parliament banned the sale or rental of homes in the EU without energy upgrades, according to Prian. Since then, Old World countries have been trying to solve the problem of inefficient housing – each in their own way. For example, in the Netherlands, old housing is losing value because of the innovations. In Spain, energy efficiency has become the main driver of house price growth and the main criterion for investors in France. Greece has more problems with this: 60% of the housing stock there needs to be renovated.
