SAP 10 and how it impacts Electric Heating
If you’re a homeowner or landlord, this blog is definitely worth a read - especially if you want to understand changes to how Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are assessed dependant on your type of heating:
The EPC is tested against the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Building Research Establishment (BRE) have finally published proposed changes to SAP 10 – the keenly awaited update to SAP 2012.
SAP Calculations are used to demonstrate the energy efficiency of dwellings within the UK and are an important part of building regulations compliance. The SAP document specifies exactly how the EPC assessment is carried out and is updated every 4 years.
Here is a summary of the major changes and what they might mean to you:
Significant reductions to electric CO2 emissions - this may be the most significant factor with electric power reducing from 0.519 kgCO2/kWh to 0.233 kgCO2/kWh, now only slightly higher than mains gas (0.210).
Currently SAP 2012 assumes that any electricity used produces 2.4 times the carbon emissions of mains gas due to it using an outdated carbon factor, which is not reflective of the current energy mix of the grid. The ‘greening of the grid’ means there is now much more renewable and clean energy being put in to the system - along with a reduction in coal being burnt.
Current SAP targets are set based on mains gas, this means that electric systems are heavily penalised. New builds with all electric heating are incredibly difficult to pass without additional renewable technologies being installed. The upcoming changes work towards rectifying this, making electricity a much more viable option over fossil fuels.
We are pleased to see a much more representative carbon factor being applied, this will certainly mean electric heating is treated more fairly when it comes to Energy Performance Certificates. As the ‘Greening of the Grid’ continues we are likely to see further reductions in the carbon factor used for electricity. Some are already reporting that the factor in SAP 10 is outdated and electricity is likely to outperform it in the near future..
If you have any further questions about electric heating’s performance and EPC assessment, then please contact us or talk to your local EPC assessor. We fit efficient electric heating systems throughout Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and the highlands.
