Article: Code for Sustainable Homes
Article Body
The LABC has now given access to a Code for Sustainable Homes Calculator, this is a unique free online application which helps develop an understanding of the Code and puts you in control by letting you trial different solutions.
Latest Link to: LABC Code for Sustainable Homes Calculator
Our homes account for around 27% of carbon emissions in the UK, which contribute to climate change.
On 13th December 2006, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) launched the Code for Sustainable Homes - a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes. The aim of the code was to ensure in the future all new homes would use less water and energy, be cheaper to run, and would be generally better for the environment and by 2016, would be built to zero carbon standards.
In April 2007, assessment against the Code becomes voluntary for any developer of any new home in England.
On 16 November 2007, the Government confirmed that it would be proceeding with the implementation of mandatory ratings against the Code for all new homes.
Since 1 May 2008, it has been mandatory for all new private homes to be rated against the Code and include a Code or nil-rated certificate within the Home Information Pack, whilst new build social housing developments have had to meet level three of the code.
It is proposed that in 2010, level three of the code will become mandatory for all private new-build developments, whilst new build social housing developments will have to meet level four.
The Code is the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. The Code aims to reduce our carbon emissions and create homes that are more sustainable.
The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against nine categories of sustainable design, rating the 'whole home' as a complete package. The Code uses a one to six star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home. The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). The nine categories of sustainable design assessed by the Code are:
" Energy and CO2 Emissions
" Water
" Materials
" Surface Water Run-off
" Waste
" Pollution
" Heath and Wellbeing
" Management
" Ecology
The Code provides valuable information to homebuyers, and offers builders a tool with which to differentiate themselves in sustainability terms. It uses a one to six star rating system to show the overall sustainability performance of a new home. A home assessed as six stars will have the highest sustainability rating and no stars the lowest. For example a three star home will be 25% more efficient than a one star home.
The current requirement to have a rating against the Code does not make it mandatory for a private developer to build a Code home or to have each new home assessed against the Code. It does however mean that all buyers of new homes are given clear information about the sustainability of the new home. Currently, a house builder can do this in one of two ways:
" they can chose to build a Code home, have that home assessed
against the Code and provide the home buyer with a Code certificate
stating the star rating the home has achieved
" Alternatively, they can choose to build to current building
regulations standards, and to provide the homebuyer with a
certificate of non-assessment (also referred to as a nil
rating).
The document will be provided to the homebuyer as part of the HIP (Home Information Pack). It will therefore be provided from the point that marketing of the property starts. Depending on when this is, the HIP might contain either:
" a nil-rated certificate
" the design stage Code certificate
" or, the post construction Code certificate
If the home is still being marketed once construction is complete then the design stage certificate will have to be replaced with the final certificate.
Building Control officers will continue to work with builders and developers as they currently do. They do not have an enforcement or monitoring role in the Code.
If you would like to find out more about the code, the Communities
and Local Government website has more information.