Aims of this presentation

1. Carbon counting & regulation -buildings related legislation Westminster Carbon Counting ConferenceTed KingSustainable Buildings DivisionCommunities and Local Government24 January 2008

2. Aims of this presentation • Identify the relevant legislation • Identify key stages in the carbon counting process • Show how key stages are handled in the various regulations • Show how regulations impact on carbon reduction

3. Regulatory mechanisms • Building regulations • Related initiative - Code for sustainable homes • Stamp duty land tax exemption regulations • Energy Performance Certificates • On construction sale or rent • For display in public buildings • Consultation on obliging private institutions to display.

4. Key stages in carbon counting in buildings related regulations • Defining the system boundary • Which energy flows should be included? • Determining the magnitude of the energy flows • Converting energy to CO2 emissions • Setting minimum standards.

5. The system boundary Legislation relates to “buildings” “Building” is in scope if it: is a roofed construction having walls uses energy to condition the indoor climate is not in list of exempt classes (varies for different regulatory applications) “Building” may refer to the building as a whole or parts thereof that have been designed or altered to be used separately

6. Energy flows: Building Regulations • Fabric losses and gains • Does not use energy per se (embodied energy not considered) • but impacts on energy demands for HVAC • Fixed building services • Lighting (excluding emergency & process) • Heating and hot water • Air conditioning and Mechanical ventilation • Some services not (yet) included • e.g. Vertical transportation • “Plug loads” (currently) outside regulatory scope • .. but impact on heating / cooling demands • Comparator of performance – target setter. • Notional building of same size, shape, usage & servicing

7. Energy Flows: EPCs • Available on construction, sale or rent • Inform potential purchaser/tenant about intrinsic energy efficiency • Separate out user effects, so base on standard occupancy / weather • Only variables are envelope and HVAC • Rating based on same concepts as Part L compliance • The Asset Rating • Comparator of performance • Building of same size, shape, usage but fixed level of servicing • Compares naturally ventilated and air conditioned bldgs of the same type (e.g. offices) on the same scale.

8. Example interpretations 1 EPC for each separate dwelling Residential 1 EPC covering all the office areas, even if actually let floor by floor – unless floor by floor servicing Office Office Office 1 per unit if independent shells opening onto street OR 1 for whole retail area if shop units share services with mall Retail

9. Energy flows: DECs • Rates operating performance • Reflects use of building • Measures all energy demands (including e.g. “plug loads” and lifts) • Adjustments for weather, hours/day • The Operational Rating • Comparator of performance • CO2 emissions that are typical for all buildings of the generic type

10. Special case for DECs & campuses • Campuses such as hospitals, universities and schools often meter mainly at site level • Derive DECs for each building on site by disaggregating energy by area weighting. • Unless a building on site has metering of all fuels & an appropriate benchmark • In these cases a specific building DEC can be prepared’ and • The site data adjusted to produce DECs for remaining buildings.

11. Determining energy demands (1) • Building Regs & EPCs • Assess asset based on standard usage • Assessment must be based on calculation • Delivers the Asset Rating • Calculation tools – the NCM • Dwellings • SAP and RdSAP • Non dwellings • SBEM • Approved dynamic simulation models • Assessments made by:- • Anyone for BRs; but … • persons accredited by approved Accreditation Bodies for EPCs and DECs. Output screen from SBEM Bldg Regs check

12. Determining energy demands (2) • Display energy certificates • Required for “public buildings” • Voluntary for other sectors • Assessment based on actual usage • “Building” must be occupied • Could be part of larger physical building • Delivers the Operational Rating • Energy demands must be based on meter readings • Includes all end uses (inc. “plug loads”) • Landlord’s energy statement for tenant apportionment • Can be adjusted for: • “Special” uses to facilitate comparison(if sub-metered) • Intervals between readings • Weather.

13. Choice of CO2 emission factors • Based on upstream and downstream emissions for each fuel • CO2 impact only – not (yet) GWP of other greenhouse gases. • Part L and EPCs • To reflect likely emissions over future life of building • Electricity based on 5 year forward projection • “Frozen” for life of AD (at minimum) • On site energy generation credited at marginal intensity (under review for 2010) • DECs • To reflect actual emissions in past year • Electricity taken as last year’s grid average figure • On site generation taken on same basis.

14. Current emission factors

15. Stimulating improvement through carbon counting • New buildings • Part L regulatory standard • Compulsory for all new buildings • Code for Sustainable Homes • Level 3 compulsory for all publicly funded developments • Optional for all others • Stamp duty land tax exemption • Incentive for highest standard

16. Part L standard(Contraction and convergence)

17. Source www.bsria.co.uk/press/?press=314 Stimulating improvement in existing buildings • Part L sets elemental standards for work in existing buildings • Carbon not counted at building level • Impact assessed at aggregated national level • RIAs show significant aggregate carbon reduction as progressively more work is captured • Replacement windows • Replacement boilers • Renovating thermal elements • Changes of use/energy status • Consequential improvements

18. Stimulating improvement throughEPCs & DECs • Requirement to: • Assess performance, i.e. to count the carbon • Compare with benchmarks • Produce recommendations for improvement • Make information available – the national register • No requirement to make improvement • Approach relies on: • Market forces • Peer and public pressure • But what of EPBD 2 ?

19. www.communities.gov.uk/epbdwww.communities.gov.uk/thecode