Scene provided a core technical and software development in the development of the Home Energy Model (HEM), the UK Government’s proposed replacement for the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). HEM is intended to provide a more accurate, dynamic and future-facing methodology for assessing building energy performance, reflecting real-world conditions, occupant behaviour and emerging low carbon technologies. Its development is a critical component of national policy to improve the quality of energy assessments and underpin the transition to net zero housing.
The purpose of HEM is to enable more robust evaluation of building performance across new build and retrofit contexts. Unlike SAP, which is based on simplified and standardised assumptions, HEM introduces time-of-use energy modelling, improved fabric and systems representation, and the ability to assess interactions between technologies such as heat pumps, solar PV and battery storage. This will support better-informed design decisions, more accurate EPC ratings, and stronger alignment with actual energy use and carbon outcomes.
Scene’s work has focused on bridging the gap between technical model development and practical application in the retrofit market. This includes contributing to early-stage testing, reviewing data inputs and assumptions, and assessing how HEM can be deployed to support whole-house retrofit strategies. A key area of focus has been ensuring that outputs are usable by practitioners, local authorities and funders, particularly in the context of large-scale domestic retrofit programmes.
HEM will play a critical role in the UK market by providing a consistent, credible framework for assessing energy performance and retrofit interventions. It will support funding allocation, improve consumer confidence, and enable better targeting of measures to achieve carbon and cost savings. As the market transitions toward performance-based retrofit, HEM will become a cornerstone tool in delivering high-quality, scalable decarbonisation of the UK’s housing stock.