The UK Government has an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. With homes accounting for around 22% of UK emissions, the UK Government outlined its commitment to reducing emissions from buildings in the Clean Growth Strategy.

According to the Office for National Statistics, there are about 5 million homes in the social housing sector across the UK. Social Landlords are tasked with upgrading the energy efficiency of their housing stock to achieve these targets set out by Government.

The Energy Company Obligation has enabled Social Landlords to tap into a funding mechanism, working in partnership with TrustMark registered installers, to deliver on energy efficiency programmes.

New Government driven standards came into effect from the 1st of July 2021. This now means it is mandatory that all work carried out by installers, under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), is compliant with a new specification, known in the industry as PAS 2035.

In this blog, we will discuss the opportunities that this new Government driven standard, PAS 2035, presents to Social Landlords and the benefits to their residents.

 

Social Landlords commitment to providing energy efficient homes

Social Landlords are committed to providing warm, affordable homes for residents across the UK and appreciate the benefits of making energy efficiency improvements to their existing housing stock. One key driver for an energy efficiency strategy is to achieve a target set out by Government to reduce carbon emissions, but importantly there are other key drivers, such as tackling fuel poverty.

Even though reports suggest that homes owned by Social Landlords are more energy efficient than those homes privately rented or owner occupied, there is still an estimated 1 in 10 households living in social housing, deemed to be in fuel poverty.

The coronavirus pandemic, rising energy costs, as well as increased unemployment has no doubt had an impact on those in fuel poverty.

Those Social Landlords committed to driving forward energy efficiency improvement can benefit in several ways:

• Reduction in carbon emissions
• Helping those in fuel poverty
• Higher energy rated properties have lower repair needs therefore cost savings
• Fewer disrepair claims
• Increased resident satisfaction, with increased occupancy levels
• Thriving communities, living in comfortable warm homes.

 

Social Landlords can benefit from funding through the Energy Company Obligation to help make energy efficiency improvements, and with new PAS 2035 standards, will benefit from a new requirement to install additional ventilation in their homes, where required.

 

What is PAS 2035?

The PAS standards have been updated following the recommendations of the Each Home Counts review, commissioned by the government. This was an independent review, and it outlined several recommendations on how the industry could improve and enhance the householder experience when installing energy efficiency measures.

PAS 2035 is the new overarching standard that installers must adhere to, when upgrading the energy efficiency of domestic properties, which are funded via the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

These new standards introduced by the Government department Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), will be overseen by TrustMark, the only government endorsed quality mark.

 

PAS 2035: Additional ventilation and the benefits to residents

Ventilation requirements are an integral part in the energy efficiency of buildings. To meet the new PAS 2035 standards, installers will be installing additional ventilation to homes when delivering energy efficiency measures, funded through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

Effective ventilation helps keeps homes energy-efficient, safe, and healthy as it helps to control the air flow.

Depending on the needs of the social housing stock, this could involve installers fitting mechanical ventilation, window trickle vents and crossflow ventilation.

Here are just a few of the benefits of improved ventilation for residents:

• Regulates air flow in the resident’s home
• Positive impact on health and wellbeing
• Helps to control household temperature
• Reduces risk of condensation, residue, and mould
• Expels air impurities and odours

Benefits of additional ventilation to Social Landlords

Having additional ventilation installed with every energy efficiency measure, has a number of benefits to Social Landlords:

• Reduced maintenance costs
• Helps to overcome the challenges of changing resident’s behaviour on good ventilation in the home.
• Future proofing properties for disrepair claims
• Happier healthier residents

 

Choose the right installer

Dyson Energy Services is a TrustMark registered installer, with over 40 years experience within the energy efficiency industry. With bi-lateral agreements with several of the major energy companies, we are well placed to access ECO funding and assist Social Landlords across the country, to help them to achieve their energy efficiency requirements.