The Code for Sustainable Homes

Climate Change Stern review Climate change is real Strong and early action is needed Economic impact –Acting now outweighs cost of not acting Environmental impact –Reduced risk at stabilized levels of CO 2e

Significant Energy Use in Homes Over 25% of UK carbon emissions come from domestic housing Over 50% of domestic housing emissions arise from space heating and 20% from heating water

Regulations Up to now –Control of emission through Part L 25% reduction in CO 2 in 2002 revision Further 20% reduction in 2006 revision Sets minimum standards Ideal scheme –To set environmental performance standards better than regulations –To encourage voluntary compliance – a marketing advantage –To provide a clear roadmap and timetable –To work in conjunction with Building Regulations

The Code Based on ‘environmental impact’ of nine categories Proposes a system with six levels –Code level 1 – one star –… –Code level 6 – six stars

Stars Sustainability assessment Compliance with Code standards –Sustainability rating –One star ( ) – entry level above Regs. –Six stars – highest level Code level points Level 1 ( )36 points Level 2( )48 points Level 3( )57 points Level 4( )68 points Level 5( )84 points Level 6 ( )90 points

Environmental Categories Nine Categories Energy and CO 2 – min. mandatory standard at all levels Water – min. mandatory standards at all levels MaterialsMaterials Surface water run-offSurface water run-off WasteWaste Pollution Health and wellbeing Management Ecology

Credits and Points Credits must be converted to points Credits do not have the same value between categories Environmental weighting factors –Represent environmental impact of categories –Used to convert credits to points

Categories in Order of Points

At a Glance Points = (credits achieved / total credits in category) x environmental weighting factor for category Minimum Standard No Minimum Standards 1- Energy 2- Water 3- Materials 4- Surface Water Run-off 5- Waste 6- Pollution 7- H & WB 8 - Management 9- Ecology Points Code Level Standard (% better 2006 Part L) Min Max Standard (lit/p/d) Min Max Other Points Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max ZC

Cat 1: Energy and CO 2 Max 29 credits (36.4 points) DER, 18.8 points Building fabric, 2.4 points Internal lighting, 2.4 points Drying space, 1.2 points Energy lablelled white goods, 2.4 points External lighting, 2.4 points Zero or low carbon technologies, 2.4 points Cycle storage, 2.4 points Home office, 1.2 points

Cat 2: Water Max 5 credits (9 points) Internal potable water use, mandatory, maximum 7.5 points –≤ 120 lit/p/day ≡ 1.5 points –≤ 80 lit/p/day ≡ 7.5 points Dual flush WCs Flow regulated taps Low flow showers Small baths Water efficient appliances External potable water, not mandatory, 1.5 points –Greywater harvesting –Rainwater harvesting

Cat 3: Materials Max 24 credits (7.2 points) Environmental impact of materials, mandatory, maximum 4.5 points –At least three of the following must achieve A+ to D RoofFloors External wallsWindows Internal walls –A+ ≡ 3 creditds(0.9 point)C ≡ 0.5 credit (0.15 point) –A ≡ 2 credits (0.6 point) D ≡ 0.25 credit (0.07 point) –B ≡ 1 credit (0.3 point)E ≡ 0 credit (0 point) Responsible sourcing of materials, not mandatory –Basic building elements 80 % of materials responsibly sourced,1.8 points –Finishing elements 80 % of materials responsibly sourced, 0.9 points

Cat 4: Surface water run-off Max 4 credits (2.2 points) Reduction of site surface water run-off, mandatory, maximum 1.1 points –Attenuation from hard surfaces, 0.55 points –Attenuation from roofs, 0.55 points Flood risk, mandatory, maximum 1.1 points –Low probability of flooding, 1.1 points –Medium/high probability of flooding, 0.55 points

Cat 5: Waste Max 7 credits (6.3 points) Provision of waste storage of specified size, mandatory at all levels Provision of household storage and recycling facility, max 3.6 points –Provision of three internal recycling storage bins of certain size, 1.8 points –Provision of internal and external bins or LA collection scheme, 3.6 points Provision of a site waste management plan, mandatory at all levels (limited to construction costs greater than £ –Minimizing construction waste, 0.9 point –Minimizing construction waste and plans for sorting, reuse and recycling, 0.9 point Composting, not mandatory, max 0.9 points –Individual, communal or LA facilities, 0.9 points

Cat 6: Pollution Max 4 credits (2.8 points) Global Warming Potential (GWP) of insulants, not mandatory, max 0.7 point –Insulating materials used in roofs, walls, floors, hot water cylinders and pipes, clod water storage tanks and doors should have GWP less than 5 Reduction of NO x, not mandatory, max 2.1 points max points –Dry No x level (mg/kWh) ≤ 100, 0.7 point –Dry No x level (mg/kWh) ≤ 70, 1.4 points –Dry No x level (mg/kWh) ≤ 40, 2.1 points Exemplar dwelling, heat load reduction to no more than –8% of reference dwelling, 0.7 points –6% of reference dwelling, 1.4 points –3% of reference dwelling, 2.1 points

Cat 7: Health & Wellbeing Max 12 credits (14 points) Daylighting, not mandatory, max 3.5 points –Kitchen daylight factor (DF) 2% min, 1.16 points –Living/dining rooms and studies DF 1.5%, 1.16 points –80% sky view,1.16 points Sound Insulation, not mandatory, max 4.67 points –PCT (3db better than AD E), 1.17 points –RSD + PCT (5db better than AD E), 3.5 points –RSD + PCT (8db better than AD E), 4.67 points Private Space, not mandatory, max 1.17 points –Accessible, dedicated outdoor sitting area, min 1.5m 2 /BR (private) and 1m 2 /BR shared, 1.17 points Liftime Homes, not mandatory, max 4.67 points

Cat 8: Management Max 9 credits (10 points) Home User Guide, not mandatory, max 3.33 points –Stand-alone guide, 2.22 points –Additional information on site and surroundings, 1.11 points Considerate Constructors Scheme, not mandatory, max 2.2 points –Regular 3 rd party audit and certification, 1.1 points –Regular 3 rd party audit plus CCS score above 32, 2.2 points Construction Site Impacts, not mandatory, max 2.2 points –Procedure to cover 2 or more of Management of site produced CO2, transport CO2, water, water and air pollution 2.2 points Security, not mandatory, max 2.2 points –Consulting an architectural liaison officer or crime prevention design office at design stage, 2.2 points

Cat 9: Ecology Max 9 credits (12 points) Ecological Value of Site, not mandatory, max 1.33 points –Use of land of confirmed low ecological value Or –Supply of expert report on low or insignificant value of site and keeping surrounding land undisturbed, 1.33 points Ecological Enhancement, not mandatory, max 1.33 points –Appointment of a qualified ecologist and adoption of their recommendation, 1.33 points Protection of Ecological Features, not mandatory, max 1.33 points –Protection of potentially damageable eco features, 1.33 points Change of Ecological Value of Site, not mandatory, max 5.33 points –Minor –ve change (species/ha): between -9 and -3, 1.33 points –Neutral: between +3 and -3, 2.66 points –Minor enhancement: between +3 and +9, 4 points –Major enhancement: greater than +9, 5.33 points Building Footprint, not mandatory, max 2.66 points –Houses: net int. floor area/net ground floor area > 2.5:1, 1.33 points, > 3:1, 2.66 points –Flats: net int. floor area/net ground floor area > 3:1, 1.33 points, > 4:1, 2.66 points

Timetable of Events Date Energy/carbon improvement compared to Part L %44%Zero carbon Water105 lit/p/d 80 lit/p/d Equivalent energy/carbon standard in the Code Code level 3Code level 4Code level 6

How Much? Code LevelCost Range £/unit – –

Implications Structural Proper assessment of ‘renewable energy’ installations e.g. wind turbines, solar panels etc Thermal bridging – issues with new wall tie types Air tightness – issues with condensation Health Increased air tightness – issues with asthma and mites Financial – new domain for ‘specialists’

House of the Future

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