Code for Sustainable Homes
Encyclopedia
The Code for Sustainable Homes is an environmental impact rating system for housing in England
and Wales
, setting new standards for energy efficiency
(above those in current building regulations) and sustainability
which are not mandatory under current building regulations but represent important developments towards limiting the environmental impact of housing
.
The Government-owned scheme is a successor to the Building Research Establishment
's EcoHomes
rating scheme first used in 2000. Although the Code currently applies only to newly built dwellings in England, the National Assembly for Wales
recently announced a plan to adopt the code, earlier than its English neighbour, and Northern Ireland are required to achieve a code level 3 on all public sector homes from April 2008. In February 2008, Sustainable Homes Ltd were licensed to train assessors and Stroma Certification Ltd (Formally named Stroma Accreditation Ltd) won the license to training and certify code assessors. This was pushed through by communities and local government (CLG) as fears from a lack of assessors to cover demand.
In March 2008, the UK government announced a mandatory requirement for all new homes to be rated against the Code from May 2008. No specific star ratings or assessments are set, but the rating means that every new home owner will know whether their home was built to higher standards than building regulations and what standards had been met.
The rating also acts as an incentive to home builders to consider building to the Code's higher standards, whilst making the information routinely available will encourage consumers to be more demanding.
September 2010 saw compliance with the code become mandatory for new build dwellings for the public and private sector.
Technical guidance is amended on a six-monthly basis, every April and October to reflect changes in materials and building techniques resulting from feedback from assessors and industry. There are also changes in the figures used relative to Approved Document Part L1A of the building regulations, for example the thermal standards set in Part L October 2010 make redundant the thermal standards of the Code for Sustainable Homes levels 1-3. This is representative of the Building Regulation's gradual improvement of thermal standards, level 4 Code thermal standards are set be part of the Building Regulations by 2013.
One star is entry level above building regulations, and six stars is the highest, reflecting exemplary developments in terms of sustainability.
The sustainability criteria by which new homes are measured are:
In 2010 Code level 3 compliance is mandatory for public and private sector new-build residences, including flats and houses, effectively making redundant the use of code levels 1 and 2.
Currently, compliance with higher levels of the Code is voluntary, with a long-term view for step-change increases. However, landowners and agents are already selling sites with stipulations to build at a certain Code level.
The extra-over cost of building to Code Level 3 is valued between around £2000-3000, additionally the Code assessment costs around £2000 for a small project, the total cost of this is typically under 5% of a standard build.
From 1st May 2008 it would be mandatory for all new homes to have a rating against the Code when houses are sold, it is mandatory for them to have an Energy Performance Certificate. If there has not been an assessment carried out, then a zero rating is given. This provides an incentive for developers to reach a higher rating. In fact more and more companies are including the Code and BREEAM in their corporate policy.
Code levels pertaining to energy require a Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) a certain percentage higher than the Target Emission Rate (TER) as set in Part L1A of the Building Regulations. October 2010 saw Part L TER standards rise equivalent to Code level 3. Since this change Code level 4 requires 25% DER improvement over Part L1A TER standards and code level 6 is 100% improvement i.e. thermally twice as efficient. It is also anticipated that the Building Regulations as well as the minimum mandatory Code level will continue to improve until the 2016 target of 'net zero CO2 emissions' per annum standard.
Guidance is also available via the code simply explained published document to demistify the technical requirements.
for putting zero carbon development
at the top of the industry agenda, and by the Association for Environment Conscious Building for including 'whole house’ carbon emissions. Despite these positive reactions, even a zero carbon building would only achieve Level 1 of the Code unless further measures are taken to comply with other requirements. Other reactions were generally welcoming, but with some reservations.
Views of the scheme were not always so positive; early drafts were heavily criticised by industry commentators, both for being unnecessary (due to it being apparently modelled on the existing EcoHomes scheme) and due to its contents. In December 2005 the WWF representative on the Steering Group resigned "in despair" due to the failure of government to accept the Steering Group's advice and recommendations. The Construction Products Association criticised the original proposals as being confusing. The Sustainable Development Commission is keen that the standard is extended to cover existing homes, and covers this and other recommendations in its report 'Stock Take'.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, setting new standards for energy efficiency
Efficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
(above those in current building regulations) and sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
which are not mandatory under current building regulations but represent important developments towards limiting the environmental impact of housing
Environmental design
Environmental design is the process of addressing surrounding environmental parameters when devising plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products...
.
History
The Code was officially launched on 13 December 2006, and was introduced as a voluntary standard in England in 2007. It complements the system of Energy Performance Certificates for new homes introduced in 2008 under the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, and builds on the most recent changes to Building Regulations in England and Wales.The Government-owned scheme is a successor to the Building Research Establishment
Building Research Establishment
The Building Research Establishment is a former UK government establishment that carries out research, consultancy and testing for the construction and built environment sectors in the United Kingdom...
's EcoHomes
EcoHomes
EcoHomes is an environmental rating scheme for homes in the United Kingdom. It is the domestic version of the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method BREEAM, which can also be applied to a variety of non-residential buildings....
rating scheme first used in 2000. Although the Code currently applies only to newly built dwellings in England, the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
recently announced a plan to adopt the code, earlier than its English neighbour, and Northern Ireland are required to achieve a code level 3 on all public sector homes from April 2008. In February 2008, Sustainable Homes Ltd were licensed to train assessors and Stroma Certification Ltd (Formally named Stroma Accreditation Ltd) won the license to training and certify code assessors. This was pushed through by communities and local government (CLG) as fears from a lack of assessors to cover demand.
In March 2008, the UK government announced a mandatory requirement for all new homes to be rated against the Code from May 2008. No specific star ratings or assessments are set, but the rating means that every new home owner will know whether their home was built to higher standards than building regulations and what standards had been met.
The rating also acts as an incentive to home builders to consider building to the Code's higher standards, whilst making the information routinely available will encourage consumers to be more demanding.
September 2010 saw compliance with the code become mandatory for new build dwellings for the public and private sector.
Technical guidance is amended on a six-monthly basis, every April and October to reflect changes in materials and building techniques resulting from feedback from assessors and industry. There are also changes in the figures used relative to Approved Document Part L1A of the building regulations, for example the thermal standards set in Part L October 2010 make redundant the thermal standards of the Code for Sustainable Homes levels 1-3. This is representative of the Building Regulation's gradual improvement of thermal standards, level 4 Code thermal standards are set be part of the Building Regulations by 2013.
Description
The code works by awarding new homes a star rating from 1 to 6, based on their performance against 8 sustainability criteria which are combined to assess the overall environmental impact.One star is entry level above building regulations, and six stars is the highest, reflecting exemplary developments in terms of sustainability.
The sustainability criteria by which new homes are measured are:
- Energy and CO2 Emissions – Operational Energy and resulting emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere (both of which have minimum standards that must be met at each level of the code)
- Water H2O & Surface Water Run-off – The change in surface water run-off patterns as a result of the development– The consumption of potable water from the public supply systems or other ground water resources (each of which have minimum standards to be met at entry level)
- Materials – The environmental impact of construction materials for key construction elements(no mandatory minimum standards).
- Waste – Waste generated as a result of the construction process and facilities encouraging recycling of domestic waste in the home (no mandatory minimum standards).
- Pollution – Pollution resulting from the operation of the dwelling (no mandatory minimum standards).
- Health and Well-Being – The effects that the dwelling’s design and indoor environment has on its occupants (no mandatory minimum standards).
- Management – Steps that have been taken to allow good management of the environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the home (no mandatory minimum standards).
- Ecology – The impact of the dwelling on the local ecosystem, bio-diversity and land use (no mandatory minimum standards).
Application
The Code is a 6 level rating system with credits in a broad range of categories from water use to occupant health. There are simple and inexpensive methods of gaining credits, like specifying compost and recycling bins, and costly methods such as installing solar photovoltaics.In 2010 Code level 3 compliance is mandatory for public and private sector new-build residences, including flats and houses, effectively making redundant the use of code levels 1 and 2.
Currently, compliance with higher levels of the Code is voluntary, with a long-term view for step-change increases. However, landowners and agents are already selling sites with stipulations to build at a certain Code level.
The extra-over cost of building to Code Level 3 is valued between around £2000-3000, additionally the Code assessment costs around £2000 for a small project, the total cost of this is typically under 5% of a standard build.
From 1st May 2008 it would be mandatory for all new homes to have a rating against the Code when houses are sold, it is mandatory for them to have an Energy Performance Certificate. If there has not been an assessment carried out, then a zero rating is given. This provides an incentive for developers to reach a higher rating. In fact more and more companies are including the Code and BREEAM in their corporate policy.
Code levels pertaining to energy require a Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) a certain percentage higher than the Target Emission Rate (TER) as set in Part L1A of the Building Regulations. October 2010 saw Part L TER standards rise equivalent to Code level 3. Since this change Code level 4 requires 25% DER improvement over Part L1A TER standards and code level 6 is 100% improvement i.e. thermally twice as efficient. It is also anticipated that the Building Regulations as well as the minimum mandatory Code level will continue to improve until the 2016 target of 'net zero CO2 emissions' per annum standard.
Guidance is also available via the code simply explained published document to demistify the technical requirements.
Reaction
The scheme was welcomed by the WWFWorld Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
for putting zero carbon development
Zero energy building
A zero-energy building, also known as a zero net energy building, Net-Zero Energy Building , or Net Zero Building, is a popular term to describe a building with zero net energy consumption and zero carbon emissions annually. Zero energy buildings can be independent from the energy grid supply...
at the top of the industry agenda, and by the Association for Environment Conscious Building for including 'whole house’ carbon emissions. Despite these positive reactions, even a zero carbon building would only achieve Level 1 of the Code unless further measures are taken to comply with other requirements. Other reactions were generally welcoming, but with some reservations.
Views of the scheme were not always so positive; early drafts were heavily criticised by industry commentators, both for being unnecessary (due to it being apparently modelled on the existing EcoHomes scheme) and due to its contents. In December 2005 the WWF representative on the Steering Group resigned "in despair" due to the failure of government to accept the Steering Group's advice and recommendations. The Construction Products Association criticised the original proposals as being confusing. The Sustainable Development Commission is keen that the standard is extended to cover existing homes, and covers this and other recommendations in its report 'Stock Take'.
See also
- Association for Environment Conscious Building
- Energy efficiency in British housingEnergy efficiency in British housingDomestic housing in the United Kingdom presents a possible opportunity for achieving the 20% overall cut in UK carbon dioxide emissions targeted by the Government for 2010...
- Good Homes AllianceGood Homes AllianceThe Good Homes Alliance is a group committed to promoting sustainable development in housing in the United Kingdom. Members include housing developers, building professionals, suppliers, landowners, sustainability experts, as well as other interested companies and organisations.Developer members...
- Green buildingGreen buildingGreen building refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition...
- Low Carbon Building ProgrammeLow Carbon Building ProgrammeThe Low Carbon Building Programme was a Government programme in the United Kingdom administered by BERR which ran from 1 April 2006 until its closure to new applications on 24 May 2010...
- Sustainable designSustainable designSustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.-Intentions:The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental...
- Sustainable developmentSustainable developmentSustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
- UK Green Building CouncilUK Green Building CouncilThe UK Green Building Council is a United Kingdom membership organisation, formed in 2007, which aims to 'radically transform' the way that the built environment in the UK is planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated....
- The Code Store
- Codewizard
- LEED BuildingsLeadership in Energy and Environmental DesignLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
Compare to
- Haute Qualité EnvironnementaleHaute Qualité EnvironnementaleThe Haute Qualité Environnementale or HQE is a standard for green building in France, based on the principles of sustainable development first set out at the 1992 Earth Summit...
in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... - LEEDLeadership in Energy and Environmental DesignLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...