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Renewables

As of 2008 there will be a mandatory code which all builders of homes will have to comply with as part of the new building regulations.

The code has been developed by the government in conjunction with the Building Research Establishment and the Construction Industry Research and Information Association. The code is based on a rating system from 1* to 6* with 1 being the worst and 6 the best. The overall aim is to build top of the range homes all across the country with a 6* being a zero carbon home.

The Code for Sustainable Homes is a set of sustainable design principles covering performance in nine key areas:

• Energy and CO2 Emissions
• Water
• Materials
• Surface Water Run-off
• Waste
• Pollution
• Heath and Wellbeing
• Management
• Ecology

The code introduces minimum standards for energy and water efficiency at every level of the code; therefore if a high rating is to be met both these areas must reach a high level of sustainability.

Notes from the rating;

1. Building Regulations, approved document L (2006) – Conservation of Fuel and Power.
2. Zero emissions in relation to building regulations issues (i.e. zero emissions from heating, hot water, ventilation and lighting).
3. A completely zero carbon home (i.e. zero net emissions of carbon dioxide from all energy use in the home).
4. All points in the ratings are rounded to one decimal point.

Summery of code benefits:

The environment;

• With minimum standards for energy efficiency at each level of the code, there will be a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Due to the code the future housing stock will be better adapted to the inevitable impacts of climate change.
• Measures which promote the use of less polluting materials and encourage recycling, future housing will have less negative overall impact on the environment.

Home builders;

• Builders can differentiate themselves from their competition if they aim to build 6* housing, especially due to the increasing media attention and public awareness of climate change.
• The levels of performance for energy efficiency indicate the future direction of building regulations, and acting as a guide to support effective business and investment planning.
• Builders are flexible in that there is no guidelines on how to achieve the ratings therefore they can find their own best way to meet them, leaving each builder their own standards.

Social housing providers;

• There is a lower running cost due to greater energy and water efficiency once the code’s standards are met.
• Homes built to the code will enhance the comfort and satisfaction of tenants.
• The code will enable social housing providers to demonstrate their sustainability credentials to the public, tenants and funding bodies.

Consumers;

• The code will provide information to homebuyers on the performance of different homes allowing them greater choice when buying
• People buying homes that meet the 6* standard will encourage the industry to build more high quality homes therefore increasing the benefit to the environment.
• There are lower running costs for the everyday home owner because of the efficiency the code requires.
• Code standard homes will provide a more pleasant and healthy place to live, e.g. more natural light and adaptability for future needs.

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