The UK government is taking conscientious steps and initiatives to achieve its commitment to the net zero emissions target by 2050. The UK was the first major economy to pass laws to combat climate change, taking up various initiatives, including ending the sale of new fully petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and installing 600,000 electric heat pumps a year by 2028. By 2023, greenhouse gas emissions had dropped to 50% of 1990 levels.
Energy efficiency supports these efforts with progressive changes deployed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to reduce energy consumption and wastage in residential properties. One such landmark initiative is RdSAP.
In this blog, we look at RdSAP, the latest RdSAP 10 changes, and what all this means for consumers and property owners in the UK.
What Is RdSAP?
Short for Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure, RdSAP is a method for evaluating the energy performance of existing residential properties and generating Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in the UK. It’s a simplified version of the standard Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP).
Since its introduction in the early 2000s, RdSAP has laid the foundation for introducing EPCs in 2007. The key purpose of RdSAP is to assess existing residential properties where the standard SAP calculations aren’t readily available. It factors in default values and data collected by assessors from on-site visits to calculate the energy performance.
Why Is RdSAP Important?
RdSAP is important in calculating the EPC, which rates a property’s energy performance on a scale of A to G, where A stands for highly efficient and G for inefficient. This rating gives homeowners an understanding of their property’s energy usage, carbon footprint, and potential energy-saving improvements.
The RdSAP assessment method needs the following data:
- Type of construction
- Age of the property
- Energy sources and heating systems
- Insulation levels across roofs, walls, and floors
- Windows and ventilation details
This collected data helps estimate your property’s energy consumption and carbon emissions and where you can implement better energy-saving measures.
RdSAP has undergone multiple updates, with the latest RdSAP 10 release date slated for spring this year. It’s now confirmed that the RdSAP 10 release date will likely be March 2025. This marks the first full-scale update to the EPC methodology used for residential properties in four years.
What Are the Latest RdSAP 10 Changes?
Every RdSAP update inches closer to achieving more accurate energy assessments and checking the effectiveness of modern energy-saving solutions. It’s continually updated to help property owners be in sync with evolving standards, technological advancements, and changing environmental priorities.
The RdSAP 10 update is the latest version of this assessment tool, introducing a total of 30 changes in line with the environmental targets. Here, Gio Property Solutions identifies some of the key RdSAP 10 changes.
Improved Heating System Assessment
The latest RdSAP 10 update includes better categories and efficiency measurements for different types of heating systems.
Heat Pumps: The RdSAP brings in a more precise method of identifying regular, system, and combi boilers that reflect their specific efficiency levels.
Boilers: This update includes detailed protocols for assessing air source, ground source and hybrid heat pumps and also accounts for seasonal performance.
Heating Controls: Recording of heating controls now includes advanced features such as smart thermostats and zone control systems.
Improved Insulation Data
RdSAP 10 will assess wall, roof and floor insulation data in detail to efficiently capture the effectiveness of your property’s insulation.
Wall Insulation: It will include a detailed description and characteristics of different types of wall insulation.
Roof Insulation: This update will focus on the variations in depth, type and categories in loft insulation.
Floor Insulation: Gain better data and understanding of underfloor insulation in suspended and solid floors.
Comprehensive Data on Windows and Glazing
Gain a detailed assessment and understanding of your windows and glazing. The RdSAP 10 update covers differences between single, double, and triple glazing and various frame materials. It also accounts for secondary glazing options and measures their impact on energy usage.
Ventilation and Air Tightness Enhancements
The new RdSAP 10 updates also focus on improving the accuracy of assessments checking home sealing and air movement.
MVHR: It includes a comprehensive assessment of mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery (MVHR) systems.
Air Tightness: It also incorporates data from airtightness tests to check thermal efficiency and performance.
Lighting Efficiency
The new changes will focus on the usage of energy-efficient lighting, recording the proportion of LEDs and other forms of low-energy lighting.
Integration of Renewable Technologies
You receive more comprehensive insights into properties leveraging renewable energy technologies.
Solar Photovoltaic and Thermal: The new update include more precise methods of measuring the energy contribution from solar PV panels and thermal systems.
Battery Storage: It takes into account the benefits of combining the use of renewable sources with battery storage systems.
Updated Calculations
RdSAP 10 calculation methods now align with the latest standards. Updates have been introduced in the SAP calculation engine. Carbon emission factors are adjusted to reflect the green electricity grid.
Advanced Data Collection Methods
RdSAP 10 changes put more emphasis on data accuracy. It introduces new tools to capture and process data during assessments on the site and uses photographs as evidence to support data entries.
What Does the RdSAP 10 Update Mean for Your Property?
The latest RdSAP 10 changes are a proactive move towards achieving the UK’s long-standing commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability. These changes go beyond refining the energy assessment process and represent a game-changing shift towards a more accurate approach to residential energy assessments.
From a homeowner and prospective buyer perspective, the RdSAP 10 update is a welcome move to more detailed and reliable insights into how their property uses energy. It allows you to make informed decisions about the investment and improvements needed to boost your energy to lower energy bills and carbon emissions. It also paves the way for increasing your property’s value and pushing the demand for more energy-efficient homes.
Gio Property Solutions welcomes the new RdSAP 10 changes and is geared up to incorporate the latest data and bring in a more precise and data-driven approach to energy assessment.
Contact Gio for RdSAP 10 Update Compliant EPC and Air Tightness Checks
RdSAP 10 is a step in the right direction. It supports the UK government’s endeavours to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and aligns energy assessments with the latest building regulations and modern technology.
As a certified assessor, Gio Property Solutions can guide homeowners to improve their property’s energy efficiency and make the best choices for their finances and the environment.Mark, our in-house expert at Gio, is ready to guide you through an RdSAP 10 assessment. Get in touch with us today for efficient EPC, airtightness, and retrofit assessments.
