VELUX welcomes Future Home Standard

The update to improve energy efficiency and ventilation in buildings is certainly positive, especially given the drive to cut energy costs and carbon emissions. However, the standard covers only a limited range of aspects within a home, despite its name.

Building regulations should prioritise human health, which is only briefly addressed in the new rules. One notable omission is a daylight standard, even though evidence shows the importance of good natural lighting for both energy savings and health and wellbeing.

Additionally, another missed opportunity is designing homes to prevent overheating through shading and natural ventilation without compromising indoor comfort including natural light – something the current standard ignores. That the government is continuing to review this element of the Standard [Approved Document O] is welcome.

We have spent many years working towards these regulatory changes, so it is reassuring to finally have clarity on the medium-term direction for Part L (energy) and Part F (ventilation). This enables VELUX and the wider industry to plan with confidence and support the delivery of homes built to higher standards of energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

As buildings become more airtight, the need for careful, well-considered ventilation design becomes increasingly important, ensuring that improvements in energy performance are matched by healthy and comfortable indoor environments. At the same time, we welcome the growing recognition of roof design and the role of renewable technologies in supporting energy security. Crucially, this must acknowledge real‑world design constraints, where roof pitch, rooflights and windows, architectural features, HVAC (ventilation) plant and maintenance access often have to serve multiple functions, and ensure these are properly accounted for.

Building regulations must work together as a coordinated system, recognising buildings as interconnected systems in which changes in one area affect others. Enhancing energy efficiency should go hand in hand with appropriate ventilation, while overheating mitigation must also consider daylight and passive design strategies. We will continue to review the new standards in detail and advocate for further improvements, including welcoming the Building Safety Regulator’s consideration of issues raised in the call for evidence, such as limited opportunities for passive cooling, as a key opportunity to strengthen overall building performance.