Code for Sustainable Homes
The Code for Sustainable Homes has been introduced to drive a step-change in sustainable home building practice. It is a standard for key elements of design and construction which affect the sustainability of a new home. It is a means of driving continuous improvement, greater innovation and exemplary achievement in sustainable home building. It is intended as a single national standard for sustainable homes, used by home designers and builders as a guide to development, and by home-buyers to assist in their choice of home.
The Code complements the system of Energy Performance Certificates which was introduced in January 2009 under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Energy assessment under the Code will use the same calculation methodology therefore avoiding the need for duplication. In the short term, Code compliance is voluntary but home builders are encouraged to follow Code principles as the Government is considering making assessment under Code standards mandatory in the future.
The Code measures the sustainability of a home against design categories, rating the ‘whole home’ as a complete package. The design categories included within the Code are:
- Energy/CO2 emissions- dwelling emission rate, lighting, building fabric, energy labelled white goods, cycle storage, etc
- Pollution- global warming potential of insulants, NOx emissions
- Water- internal, external use
- Health and well-being- day-lighting, sound insulation, private space
- Materials- responsible sourcing, environmental impact
- Management- home user guide, considerate constructor scheme, site impacts, security
- Surface water run-off- management of run-off, flood risk
- Ecology- ecological value of site, ecological enhancement, protection of ecological features, change in ecological value of site, building footprint
- Waste- storage of waste, management of site waste, composting
The minimum standards for Code compliance have been set above the requirements of Building Regulations. The Code is intended to signal the future direction of Building Regulations in relation to home carbon emissions from and energy use, providing greater regulatory certainty for the homebuilding industry.
The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to show the overall sustainability performance of a new home. It sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level, which provides valuable information to home buyers and offers builders a tool with which to differentiate themselves in sustainability terms.
The levels of energy efficiency for the code (standard percentage better than Part L1A of the 2006 Building Regulations) are:
Code level 1 - 10%
Code level 2 - 18%
Code level 3 - 25%
Code level 4 - 44%
Code level 5 - 100%
Code level 6 - zero carbon
Differences between Ecohomes + Code for Sustainable Homes
The Code for Sustainable Homes has been developed using the Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) EcoHomes System, which has already achieved success in reducing the impact of affordable housing projects, in particular within the social housing sector.
The Code builds upon EcoHomes in a number of ways, for example:
- the Code introduces minimum standards for energy and water efficiency at every level of the Code, therefore requiring high levels of sustainability performance in these areas for achievement of a high Code rating;
- the Code uses a simpler system of awarding points, with more complex weightings removed;
- the Code includes new areas of sustainability design, such as Lifetime Homes and inclusion of composting facilities;
BRE will continue to maintain and operate the EcoHomes scheme during the transition to the Code. The Code sits alongside the planning system which guides sustainability in broader locational and aesthetic issues.
If you require any further information or advice on Code for Sustainable Homes or Ecohomes or require any assessments large or small, do get in touch.