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Cracking The Code: Towards Sustainable & Zero Carbon Development

This presentation discusses the importance of sustainable and zero carbon development, government response, and the Code for Sustainable Homes. It also highlights the science and evidence of climate change and the projected impacts of economics and GHG emissions. The opportunity and demonstration of building sustainable homes are also discussed.

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Cracking The Code: Towards Sustainable & Zero Carbon Development

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  1. Cracking The Code(Towards Sustainable / Zero Carbon Development)Eur Ing Stephen Phillips BSc CEng MICESustainable Buildings Division Birmingham 14 March 2007

  2. Outline of Presentation • Why sustainable / zero carbon development • Government Response • The Code for Sustainable Homes • The Code – next steps

  3. Climate change science and evidence is undeniable • Climate change is real and happening • Science of climate change largely accepted • Stern Review has changed terms of the debate - now about scale of impact and costs. Stern concluded economic costs of inaction are potentially 5 to 20 times the cost of action • As recent Nairobi climate change meeting demonstrates, international politics still slow… but decisions taken at February 2007 Washington summit look promising…

  4. …Latest Headlines…

  5. Recent warming cannot be explained by natural factors Met Office

  6. Recent warming can be explained if man-made factors are included Met Office

  7. The Science and Evidence… • Six out of last eight years have been the warmest on record • Ecosystem changes • Species have been moving poleward by 6km on average each decade • Seasonal biological events (e.g. flowering and egg-laying) have been occurring 2 - 3 days earlier each decade • The warming of the oceans is bleaching coral reefs, in 1998 almost 90% of the Great Barrier Reef experienced bleaching • Ice sheets are melting and contributing to sea level rise. Arctic sea ice has declined by 20% since 1979 • Average sea levels are rising at 1-2mm a year, increasing flood risk around world’s coast Stern Review

  8. …The Science and Evidence Stern Review

  9. Economics of climate change – projected impacts Source: Stern presentation (Nov 2006) The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (2006) reported that unabated GHG emissions risk raising average temperatures by over 5°C from pre-industrial levels. This would transform our planet, with the poorest countries suffering earliest and most.

  10. Economics of climate change- projected impacts for the UK • … this means • Annual seasonal averages: • Warmer/drier summers (spring and autumn too) • Milder, wetter winters • Decrease in snowfall • Rising sea levels • Extremes • More very hot days • More intense downpours of rain • Possible increase in storms in winter • High sea levels will be experienced more frequently

  11. Homes and Climate Change • UK’s total CO2 emissions (2004): 152.5 MtC. • Carbon emissions from energy use in buildings account for nearly half of UK emissions. • Domestic housing emissions (2004) were 27% UK total: 41MtC – and are projected to grow if left unchecked End use household emissions over time (1990 – 2020)3 UK carbon emissions by end use (2004)1 Agriculture, forestry and land management 1% Public 4% MtC BAU Domestic 27% 2020 target Business 40% Transport2 28% 1) Source: Climate Change – The UK Programme 2006; (2) Transport does not include non-domestic aviation; (3) Source: DTI 2020 projections (July 2006) UEP 26

  12. Homes and climate change - GHG emissions • Emissions come from energy use for heating, hot water, lighting and appliances. • Over half over energy use in home is for heating; around one-fifth for hot water. Proportion of Carbon Emissions from Different Types of Energy Use in the Home (Average household emissions 1.54 tC/yr) Source: DCLG(2006) Building a Greener Future

  13. Why focus on new homes? • UK Government has long term emission • reduction target of 60% by 2050 • If housing sector were to take its share of • 60% target, this would require a 30mtC • emission reduction by 2050 • Shortfall in housing supply means we need to increase our rate of build • - from 168,000/yr (2004/5) to 200,000/yr by 2016 • One third of the homes standing in 2050 will have been built between now and then • Significant opportunity to build in sustainability to our future way of life • Scale up of market for sustainable technologies could reduce their cost • e.g. 12m micro CHP installations could reduce unit cost from £2000- £400 (EST 2005)

  14. Homes and climate change- the opportunity with new homes

  15. Homes and climate change - demonstrating it can be done • Sweden – Bo 01 City of Tomorrow, Sweden – (2001): • City district – mixed use, including 500 housing units • Built to demonstrate that the sustainable city can be at least equally as convenient, financially advantageous, comfortable, pleasant, exciting and beautiful as today´s non-sustainable ones • 100% local renewable energy - highly energy efficiency buildings • Area planned to minimise car dependency - ‘Eco-cycle’ waste management • Environmentally friendly materials • Germany – Passivhaus Standards: • About 40% more energy efficient than Part L (2006) – that is about Code Energy Level 4.

  16. The Government Response- background • Sustainable Buildings Task Group: • Announced at “Better Buildings Summit” 2003 • remit to advise Government on practical and cost effective measures to improve the sustainability of buildings • recommended a Code for Sustainable Building - bringing together best practice in measurable way - raising standards over time - based on BREEAM and EcoHomes, adapted to give focus on energy efficiency, water efficiency and waste minimisation. • Government established Senior Steering Group to develop Code included HBF, CPA, EP, HC, SDC, WWF and others. • Senior Steering Group • met from January 2005 • agreed to focus initially on new build housing and extend to all new building projects thereafter. Refurbishments to be a longer term objective.

  17. Building a Greener Future: Towards zero carbon development • Ruth Kelly launched a consultation document in December 2006 proposing that all new homes be zero carbon by 2016 (with steps towards that in 2010 and 2013); • December 2006 - Chancellor announced Stamp Duty Land Tax exemption for most zero carbon homes – details in Budget; • Code for Sustainable Homes; • Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change - consultation • Water Regulation consultation

  18. The Government Response- Code for Sustainable Homes • What is it? • A fresh approach to achieve outcomes - encouraging developers to offer more innovative solutions and empowering homebuyers. • A single national standard cover aspects of sustainable design and construction of a home. • A mark of quality – enabling developers to demonstrate the sustainability of their homes and differentiate themselves from their competitors.

  19. The Government Response- Code for Sustainable Homes • What are the key objectives? • Encourage home builders to construct more sustainable homes • Empower home buyers to drive demand for more sustainable homes • Signal the direction of future regulations and give certainty • What are the key features? • Nine categories of sustainability – tackles sustainability ‘in the round’ • ‘Whole house’ approach • Minimum standards ensure environmental robustness • Flexibility for developers • Star rating system – a tool for marketing

  20. Code for Sustainable Homes - Strengthened in response to consultation • A little history… • 9 March 2006 proposals to strengthen the Code: • Introduce minimum standards of energy and water efficiency for each level of the Code • Level 1 above the Building Regulations (where applicable) • Inclusion of new points e.g. micro-renewables • the Code to signal the future direction of Building Regulation • Government is minded to introduce a mandatory rating and will consult on this…

  21. Code for Sustainable HomesMinimum Standards

  22. Code for Sustainable HomesSustainability Rating System

  23. Code for Sustainable Homes - Minimum Standards

  24. Code for Sustainable Homes - Minimum Standards

  25. Code for Sustainable Homes - Minimum Standards

  26. Code Content Categories in the Code • Energy / CO2 • Water • Materials • Surface water run-off • Waste • Pollution • Health and well-being • Management • Ecology

  27. Code for Sustainable HomesAssessment • Builds upon existing Ecohomes assessment network • Ecohomes assessors will be retrained to become Code assessors • BRE will be withdrawing Ecohomes in England when the Code “goes live”. • Use of Code in Wales, NI, Scotland is a matter for those administrations. • “Go Live” date is currently April 2007 (to allow for technical guidance to be written, and for assessors to be retrained.)

  28. Code for Sustainable Homes- link with Energy Performance Certificates • Requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) • Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are required every time a building is constructed, sold or let. • EPCs give information about a buildings energy performance and are accompanied by information about how it can be improved. • Timing of EPBD • The requirements for different sectors are being phased gradually during the period from 01 June 2007 to January 2009. • EPCs on newly built homes will be required from June 2007. • How the two will link together • The energy assessment used for the Code assessment and the EPC is identical – only 1 assessment is needed. • The Government's Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), as used for demonstrating compliance with Building Regulations, will produce the assessment. • Energy assessors will need to be accredited as Code assessors if they wish to carry out Code assessments. • An EPC will show Code energy levels as benchmarks.

  29. Code for Sustainable Homes- link with the planning system • PPS sets out how planning, in providing for new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities, should help shape places with lower carbon emissions and resilient to climate change now accepted as inevitable. • Code for Sustainable Homes focuses on the measures that can be taken, (mainly related to the fabric of a building) to improve its sustainability.

  30. Code for Sustainable HomesSignalling the future direction of Building Regs

  31. The Future- making a Code rating mandatory • Government funded housing • Government announced that all homes built with Government funding (e.g. Housing Corporation, English Partnerships) will meet Code Level 3 when the Code goes live • In the interim - Ecohomes ‘Very Good’ from April 2006). • Private Sector housing • All new homes and those sold or let will already have to have a mandatory energy efficiency rating (a requirement of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive); • Ministers have announced that they are minded to make Code ratings mandatory from April 2008

  32. The Future- Use for marketing • Developers and agents will market sustainable homes to buyers • Opportunity to protect the environment – a typical flat built to Code level 3 will save the equivalent of travelling 1500 miles in an average motor vehicle in Britain. • Code ‘brand values’: • performance • quality • desirability • exclusivity • Code level 4 will save a household ~£100/yr of their utility bills • Sustainable homes are more liveable, less wasteful, more secure, more comfortable etc. • Code rating will be as easy to understand as washing machine efficiency labels

  33. What are we doing to address other buildings? • New Non-domestic Buildings • Have started to work with stakeholders to see what we can do. • Looking to which buildings to look at first (commercial warehouses, schools, hospitals… • All sustainability, or just a subset first – eg energy efficiency, water efficiency… or just a roadmap…? Existing Buildings • Looking at sustainability of all existing buildings (domestic and non-domestic) • Energy efficiency / water efficiency / flood resilience / impacts of climate change • Regulatory and non-regulatory options • Expect to report later this year

  34. Benefits of Zero Carbon Development • Financial Benefits to the Homeowner • Code level 3 homeowner will save around £50 per year on their fuel bills. • Code level 4 homeowner will save around £100 per year on their utility bills. • This does not include the money obtained through exporting electricity on to the grid where microgeneration has been installed. • Environmental Benefits • A typical flat built to Code level 3 will save approximately 450kg CO2/ year – equivalent to travelling 1500 miles in an average motor vehicle in Britain. • A typical flat built to Code level 6 will save approximately 1500kg CO2/year– equivalent to travelling 5000 miles in an average motor vehicle in Britain. • These values rise for larger homes e.g. terraced, semi-detached and detached houses. • There are also a range of additional environmental benefits from building to the Code, for example, sustainable materials and reduced waste.

  35. Thank YouStephen PhillipsSustainable Buildings Divisionstephen.phillips@communities.gsi.gov.ukwww.communities.gov.uk/thecode

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