Code for Sustainable Homes Alan Yates Technical Director

Code for Sustainable Homes Alan Yates Technical Director, BREEAM

Contents • Objectives for the Code for Sustainable Buildings. • Progress on the Code for Sustainable Homes. • What of Ecohomes?

Background to the Code - Sustainable Buildings Task Group Said …. . • Develop a single national standard for assessing the environmental performance of buildings based on BREEAM/Eco. Homes which sets minimum standards for key issues to prevent unreasonable tradability between key issues.

Government Response Government decided to focus on a code for housing with the following objectives – It will cover new-build housing initially – It will be performance based. – It will focus on the building and its immediate location – Work with BRE and a Senior Steering Group to develop the Code

Progress on the Code for Sustainable Homes • DCLG working with BRE to ensure; – that the CSH builds on Eco. Homes – that the CSH uses the established systems and procedures – that the CSH benefits from the widespread knowledge of Eco. Homes – technical robustness of the scheme – an orderly transition in standards

Progress on the Code for Sustainable Homes • CSH builds on Eco. Homes 2006 – Uses same criteria wherever possible – Raises standards where appropriate – Some changes required to: • bring closer to existing and future Building Regulations • Establish a framework for government programmes/initiatives • point the way for future government policy/regulation i. e. Building Regulations

Eco. Homes 2006 Assessment Credits • Management • Health and wellbeing • Energy • Transport • Water • Materials • Land Use • Ecology • Pollution • Credits reflect opportunities • Tradable method allowing flexibility in design and construction • Focuses on quantifiable environmental impacts – Operational – Embodied

Balance Scorecard • Transport • Water • Materials • Land Use • Ecology • Pollution Single Score • Energy Environmental Weightings • Health and wellbeing Issue Category Scores Assessment Credits • Management BREEAM Rating PASS GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT

Eco. Homes 2006 • Matches Part L 1 A: 2006. • Renewable energy • Responsible Sourcing of Materials • New credits for: – Minimising flood risk – Home User Guide – Considerate Constructors Scheme – Secure by Design – Flood Resilience

Eco. Homes 2006 • ISO 9001 - processes • UKAS accreditation Competent Persons scheme covering assessors. • Streamlined procedures to reduce time taken in assessment and minimise costs

Statistics

CSH Consultation Proposal – Governance • Owned by Government • Operated by BRE using Eco. Homes Systems/procedures • Assessed by current assessor network expanded as necessary • Flag the future direction of Building Regulations

Levels of Compliance • 5 (possibly 6) levels of compliance • Minimum Standards for 6 key issues at Entry Level • Higher minimum standards for upper levels in energy and water • Level 3 broadly equivalent to Eco. Homes 2006 ‘Very Good’

Key Issues • Mandatory performance levels for 6 key issues at entry level: – Energy Efficiency – Water Surface Management – Site Waste Management – Household Waste Management – Use of Materials • Higher minimum thresholds for Energy and Water at upper level of the Code

Minimum Performance Standards for Energy/CO 2 Based on SAP: 2005 calculation Level 1 – Above Building Regulations (ADL 1 A) • Level 3 – ‘Equivalent’ to Eco. Homes ‘VERY GOOD’ • Level 5 - Carbon neutral (for SAP related energy uses)

Minimum Energy Standards • DER % improvement over TER as Part L 1 A: 2006 • Built Form indicator (HLP) • Low Energy Lighting Provision (% of fixed provision) • Compliance with other aspects of ADL 1 A - Fabric Backstop standards

Minimum Performance Standards for Water Based on consumption of internal potable water (ltr/p/d or m 3/p/a) • Level 1 – Above proposed water regulations level • Level 3 – cost effective water saving fittings • Level 5 – Water recycling /rainwater collection

Other Minimum Performance Standards • Surface Water Management – Ensure runoff rates no worse than previous conditions. • Materials – Ensure that key building elements are specified to minimise the use of materials with high environmental impacts

Other Minimum Performance Standards • Site Waste Management – Adopt and implement a site waste management plan including the setting of targets • Household Waste – Provide at least 0. 8 m 3 of storage for each house

Tradable Credits Tradable credits awarded: • for higher performance under these 6 key issues. • for remaining non site issues – Broadly as in Eco. Homes 2006: – Locational issues omitted – Some additional credit areas

Additional Credit Areas • Zero/Low Carbon Technologies – Additional Credits for Zero/Low Carbon technologies where they make a significant contribution to the energy demands – Based on the % of total energy demand met • As Eco. Homes 2006 • As some Planning Authorities

Additional Credit Areas • Lifetime Homes – Based on design drawings, specifications and commitments – Results in interim certificate of compliance • Security – Secured by Design – Specification of locks and door/window sets to met recognised standards.

Mandatory Standards • Energy • Potable Water Consumption • Waste • Materials • Water Surface Run-off • Pollution • Health & Wellbeing • Management Issue Category Scores Tradable Credits • Energy Environmental Weightings • Water Surface Run-off Overall Score Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

A Two-stage Process • Design Stage Review – Based on design drawings, specifications and commitments – Results in interim certificate of compliance + • Post Construction Certification – Based the design stage review – Confirmation of compliance through site records and visual inspection.

Assessment Process Independent Licensed Assessors Builder, Developer, Owner, Occupier Consensus Standard Training Quality & Control Quality Control ISO 9001 Pre BREEAM Advice Interim Assessment Formal Assessment Issue Certificate

Mandatory Assessments? • Under consideration by ministers • Introduction in future • Requirement to carry out assessment and display results • No specific performance requirements

Regulatory Impact Assessment • BRE is preparing this simultaneously with the setting of standards • This covers the cost and practicalities for the industry in implementing the code. • The RIA will be subject to peer review. • To be published along with the CSH in late Autumn

CSH and Eco. Homes • The Code for Sustainable Homes will replace Eco. Homes for new homes in England. • Eco. Homes will continue to be operated: – for those developments already registered by the CSH launch date (April 2007? ) – for refurbishment schemes – for existing dwellings (Eco. Homes XB) – for use outside England

Conclusion The Code will: • be similar to Eco. Homes 2006 • focus on the building and site • include minimum performance levels and a wide range of more flexible criteria • be operated through the established assessor network and systems by BRE • be operated under a formal UKAS accredited competent persons scheme • Finally - it is likely to become mandatory So don’t ignore it!

Thank You