THE CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES: AN INTRODUCTION Dr. Richard Williams Project Manager SusPurPol

CSH CONTENTS Draft published in Dec 2005 Widely criticised by nearly everyone as too weak. Final publication in Dec The Code stronger. Lowest levels of Code raised above min. building regs. Min. standards for energy and water efficiency at all levels. At entry level min. standards for materials, surface water run-off and waste management. Use of low/zero carbon technologies to receive credits. Government “minded to make…Code mandatory in the future”.

CSH: OBJECTIVES As recommended by the Sustainable Buildings Task Group Encourage home builders to construct more sustainable homes Single national standard for England Industry guide for design and construction for new homes Driving continuous improvement in legislation, policy and good practice A mark of quality Voluntary – may become mandatory in future

CSH: PARTNERS Department for Communities and Local Government – own the method Developers/Architects/Clients – designing and constructing homes Assessors – qualified to carry out Code Ratings BRE – Implements and certifies Code Ratings

CSH: KEY FEATURES Nine categories of environmental sustainability Applied at the level of an individual Code Dwelling Type 2 stage process - final certificate at Post Construction Review stage Mandatory standards for energy, water, materials, waste and surface water run-off Higher minimum standards for energy and water to be met to achieve higher ratings 6 level rating system – a tool for marketing!

CSH: MINIMUM STANDARDS CategoriesFlexibility Energy Efficiency6 levels of minimum standards one for each level of the Code Water EfficiencyThree levels of minimum standards each covering two levels of the Code MaterialsA single basic standard at Code entry level Surface Water Run Off Waste PollutionNo minimum standards Health & Well-Being Management Ecology

CSH IN THE MASS MARKET Environmental Standards Number of buildings Regulatory minimum Minimal breeam Aspirational Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6

CSH EVALUATION PROCESS Part 1 - Design Stage –Based on design drawings, specifications and commitments –Results in interim certificate of compliance Part 2 - Post Construction Review –Based the design stage information –Confirmation of compliance through site records and visual inspection. –Code certificate awarded based on compliance at this stage.

ECOHOMES vs CSH EcoHomesCSH Site AssessmentIndividual Dwelling Assessment Usually ‘design stage’ onlyAssessed in 2 stages – design stage and upon completion. Flexible standards in all categories Fixed Minimum Standards (thresholds) for some categories Absolute carbon levelsEnergy based on percentage improvement over Building Regulations New points for ‘Lifetime Homes’ Locational credits related to transport and amenities omitted.

CSH CATEGORIES: 1 Energy/CO 2 Water Materials Surface Water Run-off

CSH CATEGORIES: 2 Waste Pollution Well-being Management Ecology

CSH MANDATORY ISSUES Mandatory performance levels for 6 key issues at entry level: –Energy Efficiency –Water Efficiency –Surface Water Management –Site Waste Management –Household Waste Management –Use of Materials Higher minimum thresholds for Energy and Water at upper levels of the Code

CSH MINIMUM ENERGY STANDARDS Based on SAP:2005 calculation and % improvement on 2006 Building Regulations Part LA Code Level Energy Performance Equivalent rating Level 110% improvementEST Good practice Level 218% improvement Level 325% improvementEST Best practice Level 444% improvementApprox. PassivHaus / EST exemplary Level 5100% improvement Level 6Full “Zero Carbon”

CSH MINIMUM WATER STANDARDS Based on consumption of internal potable water in litres / person / day using the Code Water Calculator Levels 1 & 2 – Above proposed water regulations level (120 l / p / d) Levels 3 & 4 – Cost effective water saving fittings (105 l / p / d) Levels 5 & 6 – Water recycling/ rainwater collection (80 l / p / d)

CSH MINIMUM SURFACE WATER RUN-OFF STANDARDS Surface Water Management Ensure that peak runoff rates and annual volumes of run-off will be no greater than the previous conditions for the development site Requirement for all Levels

CSH: MINIMUM MATERIALS STANDARDS Environmental Impact of Materials At least 3 of the following 5 key elements to achieve at least a D rating in the 2007 Green Guide: Roof External Walls Upper and Ground Floors Internal Walls Window Requirement for all Levels

CSH: MINIMUM WASTE STANDARDS Site Waste Management Ensure there is a Site Waste Management plan in operation which requires the monitoring and setting of targets to promote resource efficiency on site. Requirement for all Levels

CSH: MINIMUM WASTE STANDARDS Household Waste External space that allows the storage of: EITHER –All LA recycling boxes OR –100 litres of waste storage per one bedroom dwelling. An additional 70 litres is required for every additional bedroom. Requirement for all Levels

ACHIEVING CSH LEVEL 1: 1 Energy – 10% improvement Water – 120 litres / person / day Minimum requirements met for: –Materials –Surface water run-off –Site waste management –Household waste management Additional 33 optional points (out of Level 1 requirement of 36)

ACHIEVING CSH LEVEL 1: 2 Meeting the Energy Requirements –Improved thermal efficiency of building fabric –Reduction in air permeability –High efficiency condensing boiler –Reduction of thermal bridging Meeting the Water Requirements –6/4 litres Dual Flush WC –Flow reducing / aerating taps –6-9 litres /min shower flow rate –13 litres max volume (typical practice) dishwasher –49 litres max volume (typical practice) washing machine

ACHIEVING CSH LEVEL 2 Energy – 18% improvement Water – 120 litres / person / day Minimum requirements met for: –Materials –Surface water run-off –Site waste management –Household waste management Additional 42 optional points (out of Level 2 requirement of 48)

ACHIEVING CSH LEVEL 3: 1 Energy – 25% improvement Water – 105 litres / person / day Minimum requirements met for: –Materials –Surface water run-off –Site waste management –Household waste management Additional 47 optional points (out of Level 3 requirement of 57)

ACHIEVING CSH LEVEL 3: 2 Meeting the Energy Requirements –Measures outlined for Code Level 1 –+ possible use of low or zero carbon technologies Meeting the Water Requirements –4/2.5 litres Dual Flush WC –Flow reducing / aerating taps –6-8 litres/min shower flow rate –Smaller, shaped bath –13 litres max volume (typical practice) dishwasher –49 litres max volume (typical practice) washing machine

ACHIEVING CSH LEVEL 4 Energy – 44% improvement Water – 105 litres / person / day Minimum requirements met for: –Materials –Surface water run-off –Site waste management –Household waste management Additional 54 optional points (out of Level 4 requirement of 68)

ACHIEVING CSH LEVEL 5 Energy – 100 % improvement Water – 80 litres / person / day Minimum requirements met for: –Materials –Surface water run-off –Site waste management –Household waste management Additional 60 optional points (out of Level 5 requirement of 84)

ACHIEVING CSH LEVEL 6: 1 Energy – Full Zero Carbon (approximate 145% improvement) Water – 80 litres / person / day Minimum requirements met for: –Materials –Surface water run-off –Site waste management –Household waste management Additional 65 optional points (out of Level 6 requirement of 90)

ACHIEVING CSH LEVEL 6: 2 Meeting the Energy Requirements –Full Zero Carbon incl. all energy used for small power (SAP calculation excludes small power) –Very high building fabric performance –Low and zero carbon technologies Meeting the Water Requirements –Lowest flow showers –Lowest capacity WC –All WC flushing water from grey water sources

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

CSH WEIGHTINGS CategoryCredits% Final Score Energy Potable Water69 Surface Water Runoff42.2 Materials247.2 Waste76.4 Pollution42.8 Health and Wellbeing1214 Management910 Site Ecology912 TOTAL104100

CSH LEVELS AND POINTS SCORE Code Levels Total Points Score out of 100 (equal to or greater than): Equivalent EcoHomes rating Level 1 (  )36 PointsPass Level 2 (  )48 PointsGood Level 3 (  )57 PointsVery Good Level 4 (  )68 PointsExcellent Level 5 (  )84 Points Level 6 (  )90 Points

CSH ASSESSMENT Some credits could be the same across the whole development site Some are specific to individual dwelling types WHOLE SITE e.g. Flood risk Ecology Waste management INDIVIDUAL DWELLING TYPE e.g. Daylighting Home office Cycle storage +

CSH DWELLING TYPE For dwellings to be of the same Code Dwelling Type they must be identical in every aspect that affects the code

CSH DWELLING TYPE Same Code Dwelling Type means the same in all these aspects: SAP rating (input data and output data should be the same) Lighting Day lighting Acoustic performance Materials used Water features Cycle storage facilities Etc etc.

CSH WHOLE SITE ISSUES Other examples of issues that can be assessed over the whole site: Ecology Flood risk Water run-off Considerate Constructors Site Waste Management Construction Site Impacts

CSH CAPITAL COSTS: 1 Code Level 3 designed to be approximately EcoHomes ‘Very Good’ However: –Mandatory performance levels make it more expensive – less room to move –Water standards are considerably higher than current practice –Brings in Life time Homes –Removes some ‘locational’ benefits i.e. proximity to local amenities

CSH CAPITAL COSTS: 2 CLG RIA of meeting Code Level 3 available but will be updated if assessment made mandatory English Partnership/Housing Corporation research carried out by Cyril Sweett - Focused on impact of achieving Level 3 over EcoHomes 2006 ‘Very Good’. (Available now via EP website.) Level 6 is expensive though – likely to be at least £15-20k per unit depending on context with today's technologies and market prices.

CSH CAPITAL COSTS: 3 Currently hard to know the cost implications but there are two conflicting issues to consider –EcoHomes credits based on 80% compliance allow some poor performers to be accepted – Therefore costs are kept down –Code credits applied at the level of each dwelling therefore this is no longer available BUT each dwelling type can now be designed to go for the most appropriate credits e.g. acoustic credits

CSH INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS CSH for new build housing in England from April 2008 BUT EcoHomes will continue in England –For all refurbishment projects –For Housing Corporation funded schemes from allocation (more on this later) –For sites where it is required as a result of contractual commitment –For existing assessments registered under EcoHomes EcoHomes will continue in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

CSH MANDATORY ASSESSMENTS Under consideration by ministers Introduction in future Requirement to carry out assessment and display results No specific performance requirements

WHAT DOES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LOOK LIKE? BedZed, S. London Poundbury, Dorset Sedgwick Road, Bishopstoke