Preparing for the Future Homes Standard 2025: How Ground Source Heat Pumps Will Lead the Way

How we heat and power our homes is about to change for good. Later this year, the Future Homes Standard (FHS) will require all new homes to produce 75-80% fewer carbon emissions than those built under current regulations. This is a big step toward the UK's net-zero targets, but with significant changes come some big questions, particularly around whether the construction industry is truly ready. 

Future Homes Standard Explained - What Will Change?

To reduce carbon emissions from housing, the FHS will focus on three key areas:

1. Better insulation and airtightness using higher standard materials and triple glazing.
2. Heat pumps and other renewable solutions for low-carbon heating will replace gas boilers.
3. Innovative technology will cut energy bills, while advanced ventilation systems will maintain indoor air quality with minimal energy loss

These changes build on updates to Parts F and L of the Building Regulations, which came into effect in 2022 to raise energy efficiency standards. Gradually increasing requirements will help smooth the transition to this year's regulations. Of course, there are concerns about cost. Will higher standards mean higher house prices? Potentially, however, the long-term savings from lower energy bills and reduced reliance on fossil fuels mean homeowners will ultimately benefit.

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Future Homes Standard Summary - What's Next?

We're now in the final stretch before the Future Homes Standard compliance becomes law:

• 2023 – Technical consultation on FHS specifications

• 2024 – Implementation consultation and final regulatory decisions

• 2025 – Future Homes Standard officially comes into effect at some point this year

Developers, contractors, and housing associations will need to adapt quickly to these changes in compliance. Shifting to low-carbon heating isn't just about compliance however; it's about future-proofing homes and keeping energy costs down for residents.

“The long overdue Future Homes Standard is a policy no-brainer. Never has it been more important to build homes fit for the future; homes free from volatile gas, free from carbon emissions, and even free from energy bills altogether in some cases.”
- Leo Vincent, Policy Advisor, E3G

Preparing for the Future Homes Standard: Scaling Up Ground Source Heating

With the Government finalising the details of the Future Homes Standard, industry experts have been working behind the scenes to ensure the legislation works in practice. Chris Davidson, Chairman & CTO of Genius Energy Lab, has been actively consulting with E3G, The MCS Foundation, and the Electrify Heat Coalition, helping shape policies that support heat pump adoption, particularly ground source heat pumps (GSHPs).

One of the biggest concerns is whether the heat pump sector can scale up fast enough to meet demand. Chris Davidson is proving that not only is it possible, but the groundwork is already being laid.

"At Genius Energy Lab, we have combined over two decades of intellectual property development with the power of AI and automation to drive our capability to rapidly scale and innovate in GSHP system design. As a technology-driven organisation, we have created a streamlined process that enables new team members to contribute to paid projects within three weeks.

In collaboration with Kensa, we’ve already scaled to deliver hundreds of ground loop designs per month, many within 48 hours, directly supporting the mass rollout of GSHPs for new housing developments. That’s a target of 30,000 homes per month. This aligns with their partnership with utility provider BUUK and demonstrates our readiness to meet the growing demand driven by the Future Homes Standard."

This efficiency level is needed to meet Future Homes Standard 2025 targets. Using automation and innovative design processes, Genius Energy Lab and its partners are helping to remove challenges and make low-carbon heating more accessible and cost-effective.

Scaling Up With Education, Training and Drillers On The Rise

Chris Davidson regularly comes face to face with the myths surrounding GSHPs and the misplaced concerns with scaling up:

“At a recent Energy Systems Catapult meeting in Birmingham, someone stated that scaling up to meet GSHP demand was near impossible due to ‘there only being four geothermal drilling contractors in the UK’. I, of course, was quick to set the record straight, explaining that there are well over 20 drilling contractors listed on the GSHPA website alone, and the number is quickly growing. It just highlights the misinformation that people are believing.”

So for those worried there aren’t enough trained drillers to meet demand, the reality is quite the opposite—and there are plenty of opportunities to upskill and enter the industry. Some key training providers offering specialist courses include:

• British Drilling Association (BDA) – Offers a Geothermal Drilling Training & Qualification Toolkit, providing lead drillers with essential skills and certifications for shallow geothermal drilling.
  
  
• GTEC Training – Runs a 2-day GSHP Installation Course, covering system design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance—ideal for experienced heating engineers expanding into GSHP.
  
  
• Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA) – Their CPD-certified Training Academy is perfect for newcomers or those looking to upskill, covering the fundamentals of GSHP system design and installation.
  
  
• Logic4Training – Delivers a GSHP Installation & Maintenance Course, covering ground-to-water technologies and meeting the training requirements for Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation.
  
  
• Kensa Installer Partner Network - Ground level training, resources and ongoing support for those with plumbing and heating qualifications that are looking to install GSHP systems. 

With these training options, and more on the horizon, the industry is more than ready to scale up.

GEL is also actively expanding industry knowledge from a design perspective through our regular ‘Lunch & Learn’ sessions and a growing library of free, in-depth GSHP resources. 

To book a Lunch & Learn for your team, reach out to ours.