Building consultant Sustenic, working in collaboration with energy assessor Quidos, have been awarded the contract by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to develop and maintain the ‘core software engine’ for the Home Energy Model (HEM), the new methodology for assessing homes’ energy performance of homes.
The HEM, replacing the Standard Assessment Procedure, will form the backbone of energy performance evaluations for both new and existing housing stock, supporting the Future Homes Standard and the forthcoming reforms to the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), both of which are due this year. The HEM is intended to improve the accuracy of energy assessments and to play a key role in reducing domestic carbon emissions.
Sustenic will manage the new core engine and Quidos will “support the feature development and ongoing maintenance.”
Jose Ortiz, Director at Sustenic, commented: “This contract award marks an important milestone in the evolution of building energy modelling in the UK.”
The new HEM engine is expected to offer a more accurate, data-rich alternative to current assessment methodologies, “assisting both policy-makers and industry stakeholders to make better-informed decisions on home energy use and retrofitting strategies.”