Code for Sustainable Homes

1. Code for Sustainable Homes Alan Yates Technical Director, BREEAM

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

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

4. 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

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

6. Progress on the Code for Sustainable Homes • CSH builds on EcoHomes 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

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

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

9. EcoHomes 2006 • Matches Part L1A:2006. • Renewable energy • Responsible Sourcing of Materials • New credits for: • Minimising flood risk • Home User Guide • Considerate Constructors Scheme • Secure by Design • Flood Resilience

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

11. Statistics

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

13. 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 EcoHomes 2006 ‘Very Good’

14. Key Issues • Mandatory performance levels for 6 key issues at entry level: • Energy Efficiency • Water 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

15. Minimum Performance Standards for Energy/CO2 Based on SAP:2005 calculation Level 1 – Above Building Regulations (ADL1A) • Level 3 – ‘Equivalent’ to EcoHomes ‘VERY GOOD’ • Level 5 - Carbon neutral (for SAP related energy uses)

16. Minimum Energy Standards • DER % improvement over TER as Part L1A:2006 • Built Form indicator (HLP) • Low Energy Lighting Provision (% of fixed provision) • Compliance with other aspects of ADL1A - Fabric Backstop standards

17. Minimum Performance Standards for Water Based on consumption of internal potable water (ltr/p/d or m3/p/a) • Level 1 – Above proposed water regulations level • Level 3 – cost effective water saving fittings • Level 5 – Water recycling /rainwater collection

18. 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

19. 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 0.8m3 of storage for each house

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

21. 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 EcoHomes 2006 • As some Planning Authorities

22. 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 .

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

24. 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.

25. Issue Certificate Assessment Process IndependentLicensed Assessors Builder, Developer, Owner, Occupier Consensus Standard Pre BREEAM Advice Training & Quality Control ISO9001 Quality Control Interim Assessment FormalAssessment

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

27. 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

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

29. Conclusion The Code will: • be similar to EcoHomes 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!

30. Thank You