The Future for Smart Heating Policy: Looking Into the Horizon

The golden days of smart heating are still ahead of us, and we’re looking forward to the Government’s increasing recognition that smart heating and wider heating controls can help to maximise home energy savings without costing the earth. 

As policymakers pin down a date for the Autumn Budget, and 2026 brings a renewed opportunity for the Government to spearhead implementation of the Warm Homes Plan, we’re looking ahead at the upcoming opportunities for the sector.

The Warm Homes Plan

The new Government promised to upgrade millions of homes with a £6.6 billion investment in the Warm Homes Plan, aiming to decarbonise our building stock, while giving families access to lower energy bills, warm, healthy, and future proofed homes.

As part of this, 300,000 homes were expected to benefit from upgrades this year, with a special emphasis on reducing fuel poverty through energy efficiency. This year’s Spending Review promised that these plans will help to cut household bills by up to £600, with a proportion of the support allocated across existing schemes that support the rollout of low-carbon technologies and other energy efficiency measures[1].

Our research indicates that smart heating controls can save households up to 30% on their annual energy bills, and Wiser’s systems can help families take advantage of smart tariffs and off-peak rates. We’re looking forward to getting further clarity from the Government in October around their plans for allocating support under the Warm Homes Plan and continue to advocate for the benefits of smart heating alongside low carbon heating systems.

Plans to Improve Boiler Standards and Efficiency

Each year, up to 1.7 million gas boilers are installed[2]. While there is a clear commitment in place to phase out fossil fuel heating, the Government last year ran a consultation which aimed to improve the efficiency of our existing heating systems, lowering carbon emissions while preparing for the energy transition. 

The regulatory changes meant that efficiency standards will be tightened for fossil fuel boilers, while enabling the installation of efficient hybrid heat pump systems. 

As a result of the popular consultation, the previous government planned to consult on a requirement for new boilers to use open protocols (such as OpenTherm), meaning that heating systems must be compatible with a wide range of heating controls, including our Wiser systems. They’re also committed to look at ensuring domestic combi boilers are able to modulate down from their maximum output, and that low flow temperature heating would be the default gas boiler setting.

By providing greater compatibility with heating controls through open protocols, consumers have a greater choice over their systems, and companies like ours can ensure that our products are providing maximum energy savings and greater control to families. We hope that this government implements these vital reforms to the domestic heating market, making the heating systems of today more efficient while preparing for the future of low carbon heat.

Future Homes and Buildings Standard

The widely anticipated Future Homes and Buildings Standard are regulatory changes to current building regulations that will mean all new homes and non-domestic buildings will deliver significant carbon savings and be ‘zero-carbon ready’[3]. 

This means that new buildings must comply with stronger minimum energy efficiency standards and produce 75-80% fewer carbon emissions than those constructed under previous regulations. It also means that these homes and buildings will not require additional retrofit measures in order to benefit from complete decarbonisation. 

The changes are expected to be implemented this year, and we’re eagerly awaiting an update on when the changes are expected to come into effect. As we speak, buildings are still being constructed that comply to older standards, meaning that they will be vastly less efficient for years to come, and are more difficult to retrofit with low carbon heating. 

The changes, once implemented, will not only reduce carbon emissions and create more efficient homes and buildings fit for the future, but will also ensure that effective heating controls are an integral part of new buildings. This will help boost energy efficiency and reduce electricity consumption as we transform to low carbon heating.

 

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

We recently published a blog explaining how building controls can help to reduce fuel poverty and energy consumption in the rented sector. A consultation is now live, which seeks views on their plans. The proposed changes would raise the minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) required of private rented properties, require landlords to make initial investments to their properties on energy efficiency improvements, and implement measures that drive the installation of smart meters.

There are also plans to extend these standards to the social rented sector too, ensuring that those most in need are living in affordable, warm, and comfortable housing.

Once EPC reform takes place, smart heating controls will be recognised through the ‘smart readiness metric’ as a valuable addition to homes that will help them to maximise their energy savings and help residents to make the most of their home heating systems. We look forward to the consultation concluding and stand ready to advocate for the benefits of building controls to boost home energy efficiency for renters.

 

What’s next?

It’s clear that there are a number of exciting policy changes on the horizon that aim to drive the UK towards warmer, cheaper, and more energy efficient homes. As one of the nation’s leading heating control brands, we’re excited to be a part of the journey, offering affordable solutions to help maximise your customers energy savings while providing them with better control over their home heating system.

If your installer business wants to provide the best possible outcomes for your customers, while offering them free extended warranties on Wiser’s smart heating control systems, become a Drayton Rewards + installer today.

For more information on the benefits of Wiser’s smart heating controls, visit the Wiser website now.

[1] Spending Review 2025 (HTML) - GOV.UK

[2] Improving boiler standards and efficiency consultation

[3] The Future Homes and Buildings Standards: 2023 consultation - GOV.UK