Energy Plus Online/Code for Sustainable Homes
Code for Sustainable Homes
To back up the Government’s commitment to CO2 reduction and Zero Carbon construction, the Code for Sustainable Homes proposal was launched on 13 December 2006 as part of a package of measures towards zero carbon development. The Code for Sustainable Homes is a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes.
Since April 2007 the developer of any new home in England has been able to choose to be assessed against the Code.
By integrating elements of this Code into new homes and obtaining assessments against the Code, developers are able to obtain a ‘star rating’ for any new home which demonstrates its overall energy & environmental performance.
The need to achieve a Code Level rating
Any home constructed after 1st May 2008 is now certified under the Code for Sustainable Homes. Although the rating is not mandatory a zero rating will be automatically assigned unless a higher Code Level is achieved.
The Code provides valuable information to home buyers and offers builders and building product manufacturers a tool with which to differentiate themselves in terms of their sustainability credentials.
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 1 to 6 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).
Guidance on how to comply with the Code can be found in these publications. The Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical Guide, which sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached, and The Code for Sustainable Homes: Setting the Sustainability Standards for New Homes, which sets out the assessment process and the performance standards required for the Code.
How to get a Code Level rating:
To obtain the Code Level (Star rating) a minimum score is required for each level in each one of nine categories, these are set out in the Code for Sustainable Homes Technical Guide.
Categories:
- Energy and CO2 Emissions
- Water
- Materials
- Surface Water Run-off
- Waste
- Pollution
- Health and Wellbeing
- Management
- Ecology
energyplus advisors are able to carry out assessments on your behalf, please call the Technical Hotline for details.
Energy and CO2 Emissions
