Home User Guide
At Focus 360 Energy, we understand that the journey to energy-efficient living begins at home. A Home User Guide (HUG), is a comprehensive resource meticulously crafted by housebuilders for occupiers of new dwellings to empower homeowners in the UK to make the most of their living spaces while minimising their environmental impact.
What is a Home User Guide (HUG)?
In compliance with Part L of the building regulations (AD-L), every new residential development in England and Wales requires a Home User Guide. While known as Home Energy Guides in Wales, these guides are a regulatory necessity to provide occupants with comprehensive information on their home’s building services, functionalities, usage guidelines, and maintenance requirements.
Under AD-L 2021, our guides go beyond the basics. We not only cover general usage but also delve into the specifics of ventilation, heating, hot water systems, and guidance on low-carbon or renewable technologies within the property. Our building performance specialists work closely with housebuilders to create clear, user-friendly guides, ensuring that each property’s uniqueness is addressed.
What Should a Home User Guide Cover?
Ventilation: Clear instructions for general ventilation measures, including information on natural and mechanical ventilation units.
Heating and Domestic Hot Water: Comprehensive guidance on operating heating and hot water systems, with a focus on newer technologies like heat pumps.
Staying Cool in Hot Weather: Tips on maintaining safe and comfortable indoor temperatures.
On-Site Electricity Generation: Information and maintenance guidance for units such as photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.
Our Home User Guide Service
At Focus 360 Energy, we take pride in offering a comprehensive Home User Guide (HUG) service that spans from the initial data collection to the polished production of a bespoke guide, ensuring your property stands out in efficiency and compliance.
Collect
During the “Collect” phase, our experts gather crucial information about your property’s energy systems during the SAP assessment. This comprehensive data forms the foundation for a tailored HUG template. We provide a draft for your review, allowing you to ensure the guide accurately represents your property’s unique features.
Produce
In the “Produce” phase, our dedicated team refines the draft into the final HUG. We incorporate plot-specific variations, capturing the distinct aspects of each unit. The result is a polished guide ready for distribution to occupants and building control, ensuring both compliance and an elevated experience for homeowners.
Benefits of Focus 360 Energy Home User Guides
Our HUGs bring forth both environmental and financial advantages for new homes. By preventing unnecessary energy use or loss, we contribute to lower carbon emissions and reduced fuel bills. Some developers also leverage our guides to communicate the broader credentials of their developments, showcasing local amenities and on-site facilities.
Most importantly, our HUGs ensure compliance with AD-L building regulations, providing peace of mind to developers and homeowners alike.
Get Expert Guidance for your Home User Guide
Our seasoned specialists ensure meticulous data collection during the SAP assessment, creating a foundation that aligns seamlessly with your dwelling’s unique specifications. With a keen eye for detail, we refine the draft into a polished guide, incorporating plot-specific variations.
Choose us for more than just compliance—experience efficiency that’s distinctive and expertly tailored to your property. Transform your home’s energy narrative with Focus 360 Energy.
Get a Home User Guide Quote
Ready to get started? Contact Focus 360 Energy today for a Home User Guide quote. Our online system makes it easy to schedule an assessment, and our team of assessors will guide you through the process.
Click the Get a Quote link to access our online portal, or use the form to share brief details about your project and we will respond promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Home User Guide (HUG) is a comprehensive resource created by housebuilders for new homeowners in the UK. It provides detailed information about the building services, functionalities, usage guidelines, and maintenance requirements of their new dwellings.
A Home User Guide should cover various aspects, including ventilation, heating, domestic hot water systems, staying cool in hot weather, and on-site electricity generation. It offers clear instructions and non-technical advice to help homeowners operate their homes efficiently.
A Home User Guide is important because it empowers homeowners to make informed decisions about their homes, enhancing energy performance and minimizing environmental impact. It also ensures compliance with building regulations, providing peace of mind to developers and homeowners.
A Home User Guide is created through a meticulous process that involves data collection during the SAP assessment. This data is used to create a tailored HUG template, which is then refined into the final guide, incorporating plot-specific variations.
Our Home User Guides bring both environmental and financial advantages to new homes. They help reduce carbon emissions and fuel bills by preventing unnecessary energy use or loss. Additionally, developers can leverage our guides to showcase the credentials of their developments, enhancing their appeal to potential buyers.
