— reviewed against the regs as they stand.
The headliners
Solar PV — generates electricity, directly offsets the dwelling’s energy and carbon figures, and is assumed in the SAP 10 notional dwelling. For most new builds it’s the simplest route to a pass.
Heat pumps — air source or ground source, delivering 3–4 units of heat per unit of electricity. The default heating choice under the Future Homes Standard.
Solar hot water — solar thermal panels feeding the cylinder; a useful contributor, though PV has largely displaced it on cost.
The supporting cast
MVHR — mechanical ventilation with heat recovery; shines in airtight dwellings. Waste water heat recovery — recovers shower drain heat, cheap, and assumed in the SAP 10 notional dwelling. Flue gas heat recovery and weather compensation — boiler-side efficiency improvements worth real SAP points for small money.
Choosing for your project
The right mix depends on the planning condition wording, the fabric, the fuel and the budget — and the energy hierarchy says fix fabric first. We model options side by side as part of SAP work and energy statements, so you buy the technology that earns its keep. Ask us.