<p>With the Future Homes Standard signalling the end of fossil fuels in newly built homes, the NHBC Foundation has launched its latest guide which examines the implications of designing and building energy efficient homes without a gas boiler by 2025. </p> <p><a href="https://www.nhbcfoundation.org/publication/the-future-for-home-heating-life-without-fossil-fuels/"><i>The Future for Home Heating – life without fossil fuels</i></a>, looks through the choices of alternative heating and hot water systems for housebuilders and their designers and architects, explaining the key technical issues.</p> <p>The guide also explains other technical elements housebuilders should consider when designing and building “no gas” homes, including the type of electric heat pump to install, ensuring the industry has the skillset to install and deliver new systems and - crucially, NHBC said - how to market homes without a gas boiler or gas cooker.</p> <p>For new homes to meet the government’s targets and have minimal energy demand, NHBC said housebuilders should consider elements including minimal heat losses through the building fabric and air infiltration, a high efficiency heat recovery ventilation system, good heating controls and photovoltaic panels, battery storage or solar hot water systems.</p> <p>NHBC cited recent figures showing that energy use across the UK’s 29 million homes represents 14% of total UK emissions. …