EcoHomes
Encyclopedia
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.
It was replaced by the Code for Sustainable Homes
in April 2007.
EcoHomes can be applied to new private and social housing schemes, as well as in the case of major refurbishment. Special assessments can be made of communal housing such as student halls of residence and care homes.
EcoHomes was first developed and used commercially in 2000, EcoHomes Assessments fall under one of four versions, Pre-2002, 2003, 2005 or the current version 2006.
The rating system has gone through four major revisions, the latest being EcoHomes 2006. As a consequence, it is not possible to compare homes built under one revision of the standard with homes built under another.
Under the scheme, credits are first given for standards reached in the following areas:
A weighting system is then used to designate the home as Pass, Good, Very Good, or Excellent.
All homes funded by the Housing Corporation
or by English Partnerships
are required to meet the 2006 Very Good standard. Previously a Good designation sufficed. It is expected that this requirement will be replaced by compliance with the Government's proposed Code for Sustainable Homes
, currently being finalised, which is expected to be 'closely aligned' to EcoHomes http://www.rmd.odpm.gov.uk/project.asp?intProjectID=12232.
over the whole life performance of the building.
Previous versions were criticised for allowing illogical trading-off between areas of the standards, so that, for example, homes with poor energy efficiency standards could still receive a high designation.
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is the domestic version of the Building Research Establishment's
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...
Environmental Assessment Method BREEAM
BREEAM
BRE Environmental Assessment Method is a voluntary measurement rating for green buildings that was established in the UK by the Building Research Establishment . Since its inception it has since grown in scope and geographically, being exported in various guises across the globe...
, which can also be applied to a variety of non-residential buildings.
It was replaced by the Code for Sustainable Homes
Code for Sustainable Homes
The Code for Sustainable Homes is an environmental impact rating system for housing in England and Wales, setting new standards for energy efficiency and sustainability which are not mandatory under current building regulations but represent important developments towards limiting the...
in April 2007.
EcoHomes can be applied to new private and social housing schemes, as well as in the case of major refurbishment. Special assessments can be made of communal housing such as student halls of residence and care homes.
EcoHomes was first developed and used commercially in 2000, EcoHomes Assessments fall under one of four versions, Pre-2002, 2003, 2005 or the current version 2006.
The rating system has gone through four major revisions, the latest being EcoHomes 2006. As a consequence, it is not possible to compare homes built under one revision of the standard with homes built under another.
EcoHomes 2006
In particular, the 2006 version of EcoHomes increases the standards for energy efficiency, following the 2006 revisions energy efficiency requirements of the Building Regulations. It also incorporates a number of other changes.Under the scheme, credits are first given for standards reached in the following areas:
- Energy
- Ene 1 - Dwelling Emission Rate
- Ene 2 - Building fabric
- Ene 3 - Drying space
- Ene 4 - EcolabelEcolabelEcolabels and Green Stickers are labelling systems for food and consumer products. Ecolabels are often voluntary, but Green Stickers are mandated by law in North America for major appliances and automobiles. They are a form of sustainability measurement directed at consumers, intended to make it...
led goods - Ene 5 - Internal lightingLightingLighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight...
- Ene 6 - External lighting
- Transport
- Tra 1 - Public transportPublic transportPublic transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
- Tra 2 - CycleBicycleA bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
storage - Tra 3 - Local amenities
- Tra 4 - Home office
- Tra 1 - Public transport
- Pollution
- Pol 1 - Insulant GWP
- Pol 2 - NOxNitrogen oxideNitrogen oxide can refer to a binary compound of oxygen and nitrogen, or a mixture of such compounds:* Nitric oxide, also known as nitrogen monoxide, , nitrogen oxide* Nitrogen dioxide , nitrogen oxide...
emissions - Pol 3 - Reduction of surface runoffSurface runoffSurface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
- Pol 4 - Renewable and low emission energy sourceRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
- Pol 5 - FloodFloodA flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
risk
- Materials
- Mat 1 - Environmental impactEnvironmental degradationEnvironmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife...
of materials - Mat 2 - Responsible sourcing of materials: basic building elements
- Mat 3 - Responsible sourcing of materials: finishing elements
- Mat 4 - RecyclingRecyclingRecycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
facilities
- Mat 1 - Environmental impact
- Water
- Wat 1 - Internal potable water use
- Wat 2 - External potable water use
- Land Use and EcologyEcologyEcology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
- Eco 1 - Ecological value of site
- Eco 2 - Ecological enhancement
- Eco 3 - Protection of ecological features
- Eco 4 - Change of ecological value of site
- Eco 5 - Building FootprintEcological footprintThe ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It is a standardized measure of demand for natural capital that may be contrasted with the planet's ecological capacity to regenerate. It represents the amount of biologically productive land and sea area necessary to...
- Health and Wellbeing
- Hea 1 - DaylightingDaylightingDaylighting is the practice of placing windows or other openings and reflective surfaces so that during the day natural light provides effective internal lighting. Particular attention is given to daylighting while designing a building when the aim is to maximize visual comfort or to reduce energy...
- Hea 2 - Sound insulationSoundproofingSoundproofing is any means of reducing the sound pressure with respect to a specified sound source and receptor. There are several basic approaches to reducing sound: increasing the distance between source and receiver, using noise barriers to reflect or absorb the energy of the sound waves, using...
- Hea 3 - Private space
- Hea 1 - Daylighting
- Management
- Man 1 - Home user guide
- Man 2 - Considerate constructors
- Man 3 - Construction site impacts
- Man 4 - SecuritySecuritySecurity is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
A weighting system is then used to designate the home as Pass, Good, Very Good, or Excellent.
All homes funded by the Housing Corporation
Housing Corporation
The Housing Corporation was the non-departmental public body that funded new affordable housing and regulated housing associations in England. It was established by the Housing Act 1964...
or by English Partnerships
English Partnerships
English Partnerships was the national regeneration agency for England, performing a similar role on a national level to that fulfilled by Regional Development Agencies on a regional level...
are required to meet the 2006 Very Good standard. Previously a Good designation sufficed. It is expected that this requirement will be replaced by compliance with the Government's proposed Code for Sustainable Homes
Code for Sustainable Homes
The Code for Sustainable Homes is an environmental impact rating system for housing in England and Wales, setting new standards for energy efficiency and sustainability which are not mandatory under current building regulations but represent important developments towards limiting the...
, currently being finalised, which is expected to be 'closely aligned' to EcoHomes http://www.rmd.odpm.gov.uk/project.asp?intProjectID=12232.
Criticisms
EcoHomes has been criticised by some for getting the balance wrong between the various elements, and for valuing low embodied energyEmbodied energy
Embodied energy is defined as the sum of energy inputs that was used in the work to make any product, from the point of extraction and refining materials, bringing it to market, and disposal / re-purposing of it...
over the whole life performance of the building.
Previous versions were criticised for allowing illogical trading-off between areas of the standards, so that, for example, homes with poor energy efficiency standards could still receive a high designation.
See also
- Association for Environment Conscious Building
- Earthship Biotecture
- 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...
- Environmental designEnvironmental designEnvironmental design is the process of addressing surrounding environmental parameters when devising plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products...
- Geosolar
- 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...
- Offgassing
- 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...
- 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...
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- 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...
External links
- EcoHomes
- Low carbon in Highlands
- Solar and Wind Energy Resources
- Earthship Biotecture: Super EcoHomes, Completely Sustainable and Independent
- Sustainable Energy Resources
- The Home User Guide
- Green Homes using Carbon Offsets
- Carbon Reductive Eco Homes
- Recent changes to BREEAM 2008 (video), A technical presentation on implications for the built environment
News
- Spring 2006, Green Building Press, Discontent over the Code for Sustainable Development