INDUSTRY NEWS
ACRONYM NIGHTMARE?
FHS - The Future Homes Standard sets the performance expectations for new homes — things like fabric efficiency, airtightness, heating system type, carbon targets and overall energy performance.
HEM - The Home Energy Model (HEM) is simply the calculation engine used to prove that a new home meets those FHS requirements. It will eventually replace SAP!
In other words:
- FHS = the rules
- HEM = the method used to show you’ve met the rules
HEM replaces SAP because FHS needs a more modern, dynamic model that can accurately represent heat pumps, PV, battery storage, hourly energy demand and low‑carbon system behaviour.
Under FHS, low‑carbon heating (heat pumps) becomes mandatory, and solar PV will no longer be REQUIREMENT