Future Homes Standard 2025
In the UK, if net zero carbon emissions are the target for 2050, then the Future Homes Standard 2025 is among the many action plans that needs a resounding success. The standard is formulated such that carbon emissions in the UK are reduced by 75-80% in comparison to the current standards set by the building regulations.
With its first mention in 2019, the Future Homes Standard 2025 touted as the next evolution to the building regulations standard aims at making new homes in the UK more energy efficient. Since its announcement, the standard has undergone several deliberations and is expected to come into effect by the mid of this year in all concreteness.
How the Future Homes Standard Came into Effect?
The conservative government in partnership with the committee on climate change published a document involving changes to energy conservation and ventilation in newly built homes for 2025. The first consultation took place between October 2019 to February 2020. The committee again sat two years later in 2023 for another formal consultation after which a final legislation was passed in 2024 to bring the standard into effect in the year 2025.
What Pushed the Government to Enact Future Homes Standard?
One of the primary reasons for the government-initiated committee to push for a new standard has been the surging rate of carbon emissions from the construction industry. According to sources, since 1990, each year the residential sector in the UK alone contributed to a significant 75 million metric tons of Co2 equivalent emissions on average. Post 2013, though the emissions have witnessed a reduction year on year accounting for 64 million metric tons on average from 2013 to 2022, the intent was to reduce carbon emissions to as low as 75-80% to an extent of making it zero-carbon ready.
Future Homes Standard were then announced, and efforts were then devised to bring it to realisation in 2025. To make this happen three key metrics were deliberated upon, and a standard would be defined to be mandatorily followed for all newbuilt homes from 2025.
3. Natural Setting
Borrow your modern bathroom ideas directly from nature. Furnish your bathroom with natural materials like wood, stone, slate and terracotta. Natural elements attract and invite to be touched, and when manifested artistically inside a small space like a bathroom, they reverberate a fine opulence inside.
- The building’s energy consumption
- Energy efficiency performance of the building
- The CO2 emission of the building
Will the Future Homes Standard 2025 Replace Building Regulations?
No, the Future Homes Standard 2025 aims to complement the existing building regulations and is all set to specifically replace the Parts F & L of the current building regulations standards. .
What Do the Parts F & L of the Building Regulations Include?
Parts F and L of the UK building regulations aims at ensuring sufficient air quality without compromising on energy efficiency. While Part F covers standards for ventilation, Part L involves conservation of fuel and power usage, and deals with adherence to related metrics.
6. Traditional
If you are a fan of class and style, you may want to try and add a traditional touch. From lighting, mirrors, choosing the patterns of your walls and floors, let all accessories exude that retro theme. Try Wall Sconces for lighting as they immediately offer a classy and elegant feel.
A vintage mirror can provide that creative twist inside your bathroom; and placing it with a white tub will add to the vibe.
When choosing tiles, try a yesteryear pattern. Vintage tiles can be quite rare in modern bathrooms. Look for geometrical or floral patterns and if you are quite the emotional type, look for long lost or broken patterns which can add a bit of drama too.
7. Bold Fixtures and Fittings
Choose handles of brass or of similar metal for fixtures. For example, it can be your hand shower or the shower from the wall. Sink taps and handles of lighting accessories too can be of brass. Such continuity will provide an opulent feel to the bathroom against striking plain walls.
8. Industrial
Take inspiration from the industrial look. Go with barren brick walls and a chimney for outlet. Play with low hanging bulbs (at least 2 or 3) from the ceiling into the bathtub. try strong chord wires These can be reminiscent of the industrial revolution in England.
9. Monochromatic Style
Yet another timeless style. No matter what period you go into, black and white monochromes will never go out of date. White walls with black accessories can be strikingly elegant. Go for plain white flooring or a mix of white and black squared boxes that alternate.
10. Change the Tone
Add a wooden bench in your bathroom. Choose wooden cabinets that protrude out from the wall. Let the sink be placed upon wooden drawers as storage boxes. Fit brass or metal handles and feel your bathroom like a spa.
11. Eclectic Design
Go for varied colours sprinkled all over. Be a fanatic, add patterns where you like it. Alternate between red, yellow and sky blue on walls. Paint your cabinets and bathtub with extravagant colours. Add lush greens to corners. Place an antique relic near the window.
Conclusion:
If you are looking for inspiration, observe what’s around you. Ideas can come from anywhere. Make combined themes or a single theme as shown in some examples above. The new norm for modern bathrooms is being free and bold. So, paint your bathroom with your own theme and imagination. Keep an eye on what’s trending and think of how to bring that trend inside your bathroom.
Short of modern bathroom ideas? Let our experts at Extension Architecture know your desire, and we will make it happen for you. Be it bespoke, contemporary or futuristic, our engineers and architects have an eye for versatility to transform your bathroom into a relaxing and reclining space.
