Future Homes Standard UK:
Why natural daylight matters more than ever
The UK construction industry is entering a new era. With the introduction of the Future Homes Standard (FHS), the British government is pushing towards homes that are significantly more energy efficient, healthier to live in and ready for a low-carbon future.
Future homes will need to produce far lower CO₂ emissions, achieve better insulation performance and reduce overall energy demand. But this shift is not only about heating systems and insulation levels — it also changes the way homes deal with natural daylight, comfort and indoor wellbeing. That is exactly where the combination of the Intura SunTube daylight tube and the EcoPower Insulation Element becomes highly relevant.
What is the Future Homes Standard?
The Future Homes Standard is a new UK building standard aimed at reducing carbon emissions from new homes by approximately 75–80% compared to older building regulations.
In practice, future-ready homes will increasingly include:
- heat pumps;
- highly insulated building envelopes;
- airtight construction;
- solar energy systems;
- advanced ventilation systems;
- and smarter use of natural daylight.
As buildings become more airtight and thermally efficient, every roof penetration and building component must contribute positively to overall energy performance.
The growing importance of daylight in energy-efficient homes
Modern homes are often deeper, more compact and more insulated than ever before. As a result, many internal spaces receive little or no direct daylight.
Traditionally, architects solved this with:
- larger windows;
- rooflights;
- or skylights.
However, these solutions can also increase:
- unwanted solar gain;
- overheating risk;
- and thermal losses.
The Future Homes Standard places much greater emphasis on balancing:
- natural daylight;
- thermal efficiency;
- and occupant comfort.
This is why daylight tube systems are becoming increasingly attractive in both new-build and renovation projects.
Intura SunTube: high daylight performance with minimal heat loss
The Intura SunTube is designed to transport natural daylight deep into a building through a highly reflective aluminium tunnel system.
It allows natural daylight to reach areas such as:
- hallways;
- bathrooms;
- utility rooms;
- stairwells;
- dressing rooms;
- and central spaces without façade windows.
Unlike traditional roof windows, a daylight tube only requires a relatively small roof opening while still delivering excellent daylight performance.
Combined with the optional EcoPower Insulation Element, the system also achieves exceptional thermal values — highly relevant for Future Homes Standard projects.
EcoPower Insulation Element: designed for low-energy buildings
The EcoPower Insulation Element was specifically developed for highly insulated homes, passive houses and energy-efficient renovation projects.
The system combines:
- 140 mm PIR insulation (Rd value 6.30);
- insulated aluminium tunnel connections;
- and high-performance double or triple glazing.
This dramatically improves the thermal performance of the daylight tube system.
Thermal performance results
Independent calculations performed according to European thermal standards show the following system U-values:
|
System |
Standard SunTube |
With EcoPower HR++ |
With EcoPower Triple Glazing |
|
SunTube25 |
2.44 W/m²K |
0.93 W/m²K |
0.70 W/m²K |
|
SunTube35 |
2.63 W/m²K |
0.94 W/m²K |
0.69 W/m²K |
|
SunTube55 |
2.70 W/m²K |
0.91 W/m²K |
0.65 W/m²K |
These values position the Intura SunTube among the most thermally efficient daylight tube systems currently available.
Why this matters for the Future Homes Standard
1. Reduced heat loss
Highly insulated homes demand high-performance roof penetrations. The EcoPower element significantly reduces heat transfer through the diffuser section of the daylight tube.
This supports:
- lower heating demand;
- improved EPC performance;
- and compliance with stricter building regulations.
2. Reduced dependence on artificial lighting
By bringing natural daylight deep into the building, occupants rely less on electric lighting during daytime hours.
This helps:
- reduce electricity consumption;
- improve occupant wellbeing;
- and create healthier interior spaces.
3. Lower overheating risk
Overheating is becoming a major issue in modern airtight homes.
Unlike large roof windows or skylights, the Intura SunTube system introduces daylight with minimal direct solar gain, helping architects balance:
- daylight performance;
- summer comfort;
- and thermal stability.
4. Ideal for compact UK housing
The UK housing market increasingly focuses on:
- compact urban homes;
- terraced housing;
- extensions;
- loft conversions;
- and energy-efficient retrofits.
In these projects, internal rooms often lack access to façade glazing. Daylight tubes provide an efficient solution without compromising insulation performance.
5. Suitable for passive house and low-energy construction
With system U-values as low as 0.65 W/m²K, the Intura SunTube with EcoPower Insulation Element is particularly suitable for:
- passive house projects;
- low-energy homes;
- future-proof renovations;
- and high-performance building envelopes.
The system demonstrates that excellent daylight performance and strong insulation values can successfully go hand in hand.
Conclusion
The Future Homes Standard is reshaping the way homes are designed and built across the UK. Energy efficiency, comfort and occupant wellbeing are becoming central design priorities.
As homes become better insulated and more airtight, daylight solutions must also meet higher thermal standards.
The combination of the Intura SunTube and the EcoPower Insulation Element offers:
- excellent natural daylight transmission;
- very low heat loss;
- reduced overheating risk;
- and thermal performance values down to 0.65 W/m²K.
For architects, contractors and developers working towards Future Homes Standard compliance, this creates a future-ready daylight solution that combines comfort, sustainability and energy performance in one integrated system.
For more information about the EcoPower Insulation Element, visit Intura UK EcoPower Insulation Element.