Legislation/Technical Updates
Eco Friendly House Design
The term ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ is now well known within the housing and construction industry, but the finer details of the requirements for each ‘Code Level’ are often not understood.
Below a brief overview of the main compliance requirements for Code for Sustainable Homes Levels 3 – 6 are given.
Within the social housing sector Code Level 3 buildings have been mandatory for some time, and by 2012 this will be stepped up to Code Level 4. The target of reaching Code Level 6 is still seemingly a reality (depending on the political landscape at that time).
Code Level 3 – key requirements:
•25% reduction of building CO2 emissions relating to energy in the home over 2006 Building Regulations.
•Internal potable water use restricted to 105 litres per person per day.
•The code works on a points system, with many areas where new home builders can ‘pick up' points. For a CL3 house new home developers need to comply with the minimum standards, and achieve 46.7 points in total.10.3 points are awarded as a base level for CO2 reduction and water usage.
Additional Considerations (applicable to all levels):
• Providing cycle storage and drying space
• Energy Efficient Lighting
• Providing a home office
• Reducing water run-off
• Use of environmentally friendly materials
• Ecology reports
New home developers should work with qualified Code assessors such as our own at John Packer Associates to ensure the points are correctly allocated and to sign off the completed project.
Code Level 4:
•44% CO2 reduction of building CO2 emissions relating to energy in the home over 2006 Building Regulations.
•Internal potable water use restricted to 105 litres per person per day.
The same mandatory requirements in materials, water run-off and site waste are required.
•The CO2 reduction calculations are derived by using a tool called SAP. Standard Assessment Procedure involves the assessor working out a Target Energy Rating (TER) for the new home. The next step in the SAP report process sees the assessor calculate the Dwelling Emission Rate (DER). If this is equal to or less than the TER, then the SAP rating shows a pass and the SAP calculations are complete. For a CL4 house new home developers need to comply with the minimum standards, and achieve 54.1 points in total. In CL4 13.9 points are awarded as a base level for CO2 reduction and water usage.
Code Level 5:
•100% CO2 reduction of building CO2 emissions relating to energy in the home over 2006 Building Regulations. (Building Regulations cover emissions relating to heating, hot water, ventilation and lighting. Other energy uses in the home such as appliances are not part of this calculation). In effect this 100% decrease means emissions in these areas should be zero. This can only be achieved by the use of renewable technology.
•Internal potable water use restricted to 80 litres per person per day.
•For a CL5 house new home developers need to comply with the minimum standards, and achieve 60.1 points in total.
Code Level 6:
•Zero Carbon Home. A zero carbon home is one whose net carbon dioxide emissions, taking account of emissions associated with all energy use in the home, is equal to zero or negative across the year. The definition of ‘energy use' will cover both energy uses currently regulated by the Building Regulations and other energy used in the home.
•Internal potable water use restricted to 80 litres per person per day (This is the standard which the government wants to achieve by 2016).
•For a CL6 house you need to comply with the minimum standards, and achieve 64.9 points in total. In CL6 25.1 points are awarded as a base level for CO2 reduction and water usage.
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The term ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ is now well known within the housing and construction industry, but the finer details of the requirements for each ‘Code Level’ are often not understood.
Below a brief overview of the main compliance requirements for Code for Sustainable Homes Levels 3 – 6 are given.
Within the social housing sector Code Level 3 buildings have been mandatory for some time, and by 2012 this will be stepped up to Code Level 4. The target of reaching Code Level 6 is still seemingly a reality (depending on the political landscape at that time).
Code Level 3 – key requirements:
•25% reduction of building CO2 emissions relating to energy in the home over 2006 Building Regulations.
•Internal potable water use restricted to 105 litres per person per day.
•The code works on a points system, with many areas where new home builders can ‘pick up' points. For a CL3 house new home developers need to comply with the minimum standards, and achieve 46.7 points in total.10.3 points are awarded as a base level for CO2 reduction and water usage.
Additional Considerations (applicable to all levels):
• Providing cycle storage and drying space
• Energy Efficient Lighting
• Providing a home office
• Reducing water run-off
• Use of environmentally friendly materials
• Ecology reports
New home developers should work with qualified Code assessors such as our own at John Packer Associates to ensure the points are correctly allocated and to sign off the completed project.
Code Level 4:
•44% CO2 reduction of building CO2 emissions relating to energy in the home over 2006 Building Regulations.
•Internal potable water use restricted to 105 litres per person per day.
The same mandatory requirements in materials, water run-off and site waste are required.
•The CO2 reduction calculations are derived by using a tool called SAP. Standard Assessment Procedure involves the assessor working out a Target Energy Rating (TER) for the new home. The next step in the SAP report process sees the assessor calculate the Dwelling Emission Rate (DER). If this is equal to or less than the TER, then the SAP rating shows a pass and the SAP calculations are complete. For a CL4 house new home developers need to comply with the minimum standards, and achieve 54.1 points in total. In CL4 13.9 points are awarded as a base level for CO2 reduction and water usage.
Code Level 5:
•100% CO2 reduction of building CO2 emissions relating to energy in the home over 2006 Building Regulations. (Building Regulations cover emissions relating to heating, hot water, ventilation and lighting. Other energy uses in the home such as appliances are not part of this calculation). In effect this 100% decrease means emissions in these areas should be zero. This can only be achieved by the use of renewable technology.
•Internal potable water use restricted to 80 litres per person per day.
•For a CL5 house new home developers need to comply with the minimum standards, and achieve 60.1 points in total.
Code Level 6:
•Zero Carbon Home. A zero carbon home is one whose net carbon dioxide emissions, taking account of emissions associated with all energy use in the home, is equal to zero or negative across the year. The definition of ‘energy use' will cover both energy uses currently regulated by the Building Regulations and other energy used in the home.
•Internal potable water use restricted to 80 litres per person per day (This is the standard which the government wants to achieve by 2016).
•For a CL6 house you need to comply with the minimum standards, and achieve 64.9 points in total. In CL6 25.1 points are awarded as a base level for CO2 reduction and water usage.
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Other Updates: