Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Review of the methodology for FGHRS in SAP Final Report, published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 9 June, what plans they have to mandate a minimum domestic hot water seasonal efficiency of at least 100 per cent when measured against EN 13203 Gas fired domestic appliances producing hot water for boilers installed in the UK for (1) new build social housing, (2) other new build housing, (3) as replacement boilers in social housing, and (4) as replacement boilers in all housing.

The Government recognises that the energy efficiency of buildings has an important role to play in meeting our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and that generating hot water efficiently is a necessary part of this. The Standard Assessment Procedure accounts for the benefits of installing energy saving measures in hot water systems including flue gas heat recovery systems.

As part of the Future Homes Standard consultation, launched in October 2019, we consulted on energy efficiency standards for new homes, including minimum building services efficiencies. This consultation closed on 7 February. We are analysing the consultation responses, and will publish a Government response in due course. A further consultation will follow, proposing changes to the energy efficiency standards for new non-domestic buildings; for building work to existing homes and non-domestic buildings; and on mitigating overheating in new dwellings.