The Code for Sustainable Homes has been introduced to drive a step-change in sustainable building practice. Steve Rickards, Sales Director - New Build at Potterton, contemplates the impact it could have on heating systems in new homes.
By now we all know that climate change is a serious issue and that we all have a responsibility to address the way we heat, light and run our homes. By 2050, one third of the homes we will need will have been built between now and then, and this presents a huge opportunity to build features into new housing that will reduce the effect it has on the environment.
The Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) is a single national standard to guide architects and builders as they design and construct every new home. It has been introduced to steer the housing market towards the creation of highly efficient, greener and more sustainable homes.
The Code measures the sustainability of the whole home as a complete package, considering nine different areas: energy and carbon dioxide, water, materials, surface water run-off, waste, pollution, health and well being, management, ecology. The home is then given a star rating of one to six, based on points awarded in each category.
* Above regulatory standards and of a similar standard to Building Research Establishment's (BRE) EcoHomes 'Pass' level and the Energy Saving Trust's (EST) Good Practice Standard for energy
**A similar standard to EcoHomes 'Good' level - awarded if a developer has been able to demonstrate good practice
***Broadly similar to EcoHomes 'Very Good' level. This will become the minimum standard for social housing developments
****Developers that demonstrate exemplary environmental performance, with particularly high standards of energy and water efficiency. This will require a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 44% compared to current Building Regulations
*****Developers that demonstrate exemplary environmental performance, with particularly high standards of energy and water efficiency. This represents zero emissions in respect of Building Regulation issues (ie zero emissions of carbon dioxide for heating, hot water, ventilation and lighting)
******Aspirational standard based on zero carbon emissions for the dwelling and high performance across all environmental categories (ie zero net emissions of carbon dioxide from all energy use in the home)
From a heating point of view, the Code will mean an increase in the use of renewable and microgeneration technologies in order to meet the Government's vision of zero carbon homes by 2016.
According to the Code, Level One requires the installation of a high efficiency condensing boiler. Level Three also requires a high efficiency condensing boiler, but in order to achieve 25% more energy efficiency than a home build to the 2006 Building Regulations standard, it will also need to use a district heating system or low/zero carbon technologies such as solar panels or biomass boilers to help heat hot water.
For a completely zero carbon home at Level Six, where there are zero net emissions of carbon dioxide from all energy used in the home, in addition to either a high efficiency condensing boiler or district heating system, the home will use low and zero carbon technologies such as solar thermal panels, biomass, wind turbines and combined heat and power units (CHP). Energy taken from the national grid would have to be replaced by low or zero carbon generated energy so that over a year the emissions were zero.
For the householders, the Code will provide information on energy efficiency, the environmental friendliness and the cost effectiveness of a potential new home. For housebuilders and developers the Code represents evidence of their sustainability credentials. It is flexible enough for them to choose how they attain certain levels, apart from the energy and water efficiency, which must be achieved at every level.
Heating contractors that have an eye on the future are already embracing renewable technologies such as solar thermal domestic heating systems. Renewable and microgeneration technologies will become more and more a part of the home, the norm rather than the exception or 'one-off''.
At Potterton, we recognise the importance of showing installers how the Code will affect them and what they will have to do to comply with its criteria. And we can help them turn it into a commercial advantage.
For a free copy of Potterton's guide to the Code for Sustainable Homes, call 08706 060 623. For a detailed explanation of the sustainability ratings, visit www.communities.gov.uk/thecode
