Northstar Realty Group’s Post

Our residential team recently had a great morning with Elmhurst Energy’s Alistair Galloway who informed us on some very important forthcoming changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). These changes will be launched in Spring 2024 with the aims of improving the accuracy and comprehensiveness of EPCs on existing residential dwellings. This will mean our surveyors will be in your home for slightly longer than before although the benefits of improved accuracy will be worthwhile. The changes include the following: - ✔️ Assessors will be required to measure all windows – This will allow for data obtained to be more reflective of the subject being assessed, whilst also representing a move away from the assumption of typical glazing areas. ✔️ Additional options for roof rooms – Assessors will be required to take a couple of additional measurements in order to capture the different construction types of any common wall and gable walls. ✔️ New age band – Introduction of new age band for properties built from 2023 onwards to show improvement in u-values. ✔️ Assessors can account for PV diverters and battery storage – When present in the property, assessors will be able to account for PV diverters and battery storage. ✔️ Heat Pumps to be recommended more – The government’s low carbon solution of choice, Heat Pumps, will be appearing more often as a recommended improvement measure, under certain conditions, e.g., the property has to be fairly well insulated. ✔️ Energy costs to be updated every 6 months – This will reflect current fuel costs more accurately, providing customers with better estimates. EPCs are required when selling or renting a residential property in Scotland. They are also required by Home Energy Scotland when applying for funding for energy saving improvements. Graham + Sibbald have a team of fully-qualified Domestic Energy Assessors across the whole of Scotland who are able to provide the best advice in making your home as energy-efficient as possible. #Scotland #energycertificates #expertlydelivered #residential #property #findoutmore #contactus

Building Performance Standards require some existing large and midsized commercial and residential buildings—including multifamily housing—to lower their energy use intensity, GHG emissions intensity, or both. A new report released by The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) outlines the unique challenges affordable housing faces with BPS compliance, such as the lack of upfront capital for energy efficiency improvements, technical expertise to complete upgrades, and the need to sometimes complete health and safety upgrades to properties before energy efficiency upgrades can take place. There's a clear need for building owners and operators to take action to reduce their energy use and emissions, but these challenges can be major roadblocks to efficiency. https://lnkd.in/gqtBgqks #buildingefficiency #buildingperformancestandards #GHGemissions

Housing Affordability Institute released a new white paper today outlining energy codes and the efficiency of new homes built in the United States. Energy codes are model building codes that establish the minimum energy efficiency standard for structures. The white paper illustrates the increase in efficiency over the past decade and the various ways home builders can comply with an energy code's requirements. "Energy Codes and New Home Efficiency" is the latest white paper in Housing Affordability Institute’s Housing Policy Explainer Series. https://lnkd.in/gx6ZJKiG #housingpolicy #housing #homebuilding #energyefficiency

New homes in the United States are 47% more efficent than in 2006. Our aging housing stock? As a whole, 82% of all housing in the U.S. is 30% less effiecent than homes built in 2006. You can read more in the lastest white paper form Housing Affordability Institute. #housing #housingpolicy #homebuilding

Our residential team had a great morning with Elmhurst Energy’s Alistair Galloway a few weeks ago who informed us on some very important forthcoming changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). These changes will be launched in Spring 2024 with the aims of improving the accuracy and comprehensiveness of EPCs on existing residential dwellings. This will mean our surveyors will be in your home for slightly longer than before although the benefits of improved accuracy will be worthwhile. The changes include the following: - ✔️ Assessors will be required to measure all windows – This will allow for data obtained to be more reflective of the subject being assessed, whilst also representing a move away from the assumption of typical glazing areas. ✔️ Additional options for roof rooms – Assessors will be required to take a couple of additional measurements in order to capture the different construction types of any common wall and gable walls. ✔️ New age band – Introduction of new age band for properties built from 2023 onwards to show improvement in u-values. ✔️ Assessors can account for PV diverters and battery storage – When present in the property, assessors will be able to account for PV diverters and battery storage. ✔️ Heat Pumps to be recommended more – The government’s low carbon solution of choice, Heat Pumps, will be appearing more often as a recommended improvement measure, under certain conditions, e.g., the property has to be fairly well insulated. ✔️ Energy costs to be updated every 6 months – This will reflect current fuel costs more accurately, providing customers with better estimates. EPCs are required when selling or renting a residential property in Scotland. They are also required by Home Energy Scotland when applying for funding for energy saving improvements. Graham + Sibbald have a team of fully-qualified Domestic Energy Assessors across the whole of Scotland who are able to provide the best advice in making your home as energy-efficient as possible. https://ow.ly/cejX50ReMot #Scotland #energycertificates #expertlydelivered #residential #property #findoutmore #contactus

Great report! Full focus now towards increasing the awareness of how important retrofitting is!

This op-ed in The Washington Post argues that the long-term benefits of energy-efficient housing far outweigh the initial costs and calls for stronger building codes to promote sustainability. This is particularly relevant for the multifamily housing market, where energy-efficient building codes can have a significant impact on reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainable living. How enforcing energy-efficiency codes can impact the housing market as a whole: https://ow.ly/5xZW50R8nim

💥 New report from SuperHomes / National Energy Foundation into the impact of energy improvements to a home on property value. It is a first of a kind study with a small sample size of 15 homes but the data has been collected by independent RICS surveyors, Trinity Rose Surveyors, Residential, Commercial and Architecture, using valuation standards. The findings? 2-5% increase in property value. Check out the report in the comments for the detailed analysis. What's interesting is the difference between the surveying results and the perceived value from the residents who would be willing to pay 5-10% more of the property value vs a similar home to experience the same benefits they do today. Aside from regulatory drivers which we're all waiting for from a new governments, it feels like it boils down to awareness and experience of the benefits which may lead to internalising comfort, health and low carbon into property value in the coming years. I would love for this to be a longitudinal study that's repeated every 1-2 years to see how this changes over time. Sally Hodgkinson and Paul Ciniglio. #retrofit #netzero #greenfinance #homedecarbonisation

The new 7-star minimum for energy efficiency is coming into effect soon! While this change does require extra initial up-front costs to building a new home, there are long-term benefits and savings to be made - especially with increasing living costs. Read our blog on The Chalk 👉 https://buff.ly/3MDR7dS to find out more about how these changes will bring a positive effect into new-build homes.

‼ FUTURE HOMES STANDARD CONSULTATION RESPONSE ‼ The government has initiated a consultation on both the #FutureHomes standard and the #HomeEnergy Model, seeking input on policies that directly impact our lives, communities, and future. In response to the government consultation, Bioregional and the Good Homes Alliance, alongside other like-minded organisations have drafted a letter to DLUHC and DESNZ, outlining their concerns. Neither of the Future Homes Standard consultation options go far enough in addressing the urgent need for change to meet our #climate commitments, or the healthy homes with low bills that we need. We urge you and/or your organisation to take action and sign their letter in response. The letter, is an opportunity to express our concerns, share our insights, and advocate for positive change. Every signature counts and strengthens our collective impact. Please sign by Thursday 29th February 2024 so they can submit the letter before the end of the consultation. The consultation ends on Wednesday 6th March. Further details and the letter can be found here: https://lnkd.in/djgbBTWB #ACAN #ClimateAction #HealthyHomes #BuiltEnvironment #Architects #Buildings