Octopus Energy launches Zero Bills standard
Zero Bills Director, Nigel Banks, Octopus Energy Zero Bills Director. Image: Octopus Energy.
The Zero Bills standard has been launched by Octopus Energy as a framework to fast-track the decarbonisation of homes while guaranteeing zero energy bills for residents.
The new standard is aimed to build on the UK’s Future Homes standard, which will require most homes to have improved energy efficiency and low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps and solar panels, with the addition of battery storage.
As such it is intended as a global benchmark for sustainable housing with a stronger, consumer-focused proposition than the Future Homes standard or other frameworks such as the Passivhaus standard.
Under the Future Homes standard, from 2025 all new build homes must produce 75–80% fewer carbon emissions compared to those constructed under 2013 regulations, with similar requirements for new non-domestic buildings.
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Homes built to the standard must also be ‘zero-carbon ready’ and designed so they won’t require retrofitting to benefit from the decarbonisation of the electricity grid and the transition to electrified heating.
Homes built to this standard will then qualify for Octopus’ Zero Bills’ tariff, which was introduced in 2022 to enable customers to move into low-carbon tech-fitted homes with the guarantee of no energy bills for 5 to 10 years (excluding EV charging costs, which are billed separately).
“The Zero Bills standard is a game-changer for sustainable living,” said Nigel Banks, Director of ‘Zero Bills’ at Octopus Energy, at its launch.
“By going beyond current housing standards, we’re empowering housebuilders, developers and local authorities to create homes that are not only better for the planet, but better for people’s wallets too.”
The announcement of the standard was made at the Zero Bills Awards for companies already accredited to the new standard and leading the way in low-carbon housebuilding, retrofitting and clean energy innovation
The award of ‘Zero Bills’ Housebuilder of the Year was Thakeham, whose zero carbon homes also include other efficiency and sustainability features such as induction hobs, water saving taps and wi-fi controlled thermostats, among others.
Octopus Energy aims to deliver 100,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes by 2030 and in addition to the UK, has rolled out the initiative in Germany, with an initial 24 homes under development in Schramberg, and in New Zealand.
To date, over 1,200 ‘Zero Bills’ homes have been accredited through contracts with a number of prominent developers.
