1. The Code for Sustainable Homes: Towards Zero Carbon
Alan Yates
Technical Director, BREEAM
BRE Certification

2. Overview Based on EcoHomes 2006 Linked to continuous improvement in
legislation, policy and good practice
Amended scope of assessment
Amended assessment criteria
Post construction certification
Only covers New build in England

3. Major differences EcoHomes The Code Site Assessment
Individual Dwelling Assessment
(based on Dwelling Types)
Usually ‘design stage’ only
Assessed in 2 stages –
design stage and upon completion.
Flexible standards in all categories
Fixed Minimum Standards (thresholds) for some categories
Absolute carbon levels
Energy based on percentage improvement over Building Regulations
Includes locational credits related to transport and amenities
Locational credits related to transport and amenities omitted.
New points for ‘Lifetime Homes’

4. Mass market Number of buildings CSH Environmental Standards
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Regulatory minimum
Number of buildings
CSH
Minimal
Aspirational
Environmental Standards

5. Code Issue Categories Waste Pollution Energy/CO2 Health & Well-being
Management
Ecology
Energy/CO2
Water
Materials
Surface Water Run-off

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

7. Weightings Energy 36.4 % Potable Water 9 % Surface Water Runoff 2.2 %
Materials %
Waste %
Pollution %
Health and Wellbeing 14 %
Management 10 %
Site Ecology 12 %

8. Code levels and points score
Total Points Score out of 100
(equal to or greater than):
Approx equivalent EcoHomes rating
Level 1 ()
36 Points
Pass (36%)
Level 2 ()
48 Points
Good (48%)
Level 3 ()
57 Points
Very Good (58%)
Level 4 ()
68 Points
Excellent (70%)
Level 5 ()
84 Points
Level 6 ()
90 Points

9. Minimum standards Categories Flexibility Energy Efficiency
6 levels of minimum standards one for each level of the Code
Water Efficiency
Three levels of minimum standards each covering two levels of the Code
Materials
A single basic standard at Code entry level
Surface Water Run Off
Waste
Pollution
No minimum standards
Health & Well-Being
Management
Ecology

10. Minimum Energy Standards
Based on SAP:2005 calculation and % improvement on 2006 Building Regulations Part LA
Code Level
Energy Performance
Equivalent standards
Level 1
10% improvement
EST Good
Level 2
18% improvement
Level 3
25% improvement
EST Best
Level 4
44% improvement
Approx. PassivHaus / EST advanced
Level 5
100% improvement
Level 6
Full Zero Carbon
Approx 145% improvement over ADL1A: 2006

11. Minimum Carbon Dioxide Emissions Standards
Building Regulations Part L1a: 2006
Target Emission Rate (TER) – minimum requirement
Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) – actual emissions
30% dedicated low energy lighting provision
Compliance with other aspects – Fabric Backstop standards
Energy standards/methods will be based on those that you are familiar and working with at present. Most of this comes out of the SAP calculation so there is no additional demand for analysis to demonstrate compliance.

12. Minimum Energy Standards
The Code requirements (as ADL:2006)
Levels 1-5
The % improvement in the actual emissions over the target emission for each Code Dwelling type.
i.e. [1-(DER/TER)] *100%
Accredited energy assessor/Part L ‘competent person’- The term ‘SAP Assessor’ is to be replaced
When a building contains more than one dwelling, area-weighted average DER and TER for the building as a whole is acceptable (as described in clause 23 of Approved Document L1A).
Energy standards/methods will be based on those that you are familiar and working with at present. Most of this comes out of the SAP calculation so there is no additional demand for analysis to demonstrate compliance.

13. Minimum Energy Standards
The Code requirements (as ADL:2006)
Level 6 – Where net Carbon Dioxide emissions resulting from ALL energy use in the dwelling is Zero.
Must meet Level 5 threshold by on site means
Heat Loss Parameter (HLP) of ≤0.8m3/hr/m2
Appliances demand can be met
by on site renewables/low carbon technologies
OR by off site independently accredited renewables
Some ESCOs comply where directly supplying
Definition very similar to HM Treasure Stamp Duty relief
Energy standards/methods will be based on those that you are familiar and working with at present. Most of this comes out of the SAP calculation so there is no additional demand for analysis to demonstrate compliance.

14. Ene 1 – Dwelling Emission Rate
% improvement of DER over TER
Credits
Mandatory Levels
≥ 10 % 1
≥ 14 % 2
≥ 18 % 3
≥ 22 % 4
≥ 25 % 5
(ADL:2010)
≥ 31 % 6
≥ 37 % 7
≥ 44 % 8
(ADL:2013)
≥ 52 % 9
≥ 60 % 10
≥ 69 % 11
≥ 79 % 12
≥ 89 % 13
≥ 100 % 14
True Zero Carbon 15
6 (ADL:2016)

15. Passiv Haus Standard – UK Standard
UK Standard Practice
U Values
< 0.15 W/m2/K
W/m2/K
Energy Efficient Glazing
< 0.80 W/m2/K
50% heat gain coefficient
< W/m2/K
Air tightness
< 1 50Pa Pa
Passive ventilation preheating
Ground ducts and/or heat recovery
None
Passive solar
Key design factor
Limited
Lighting
Low energy lighting throughout
30% low energy lighting required
TOTAL Energy
space heating
< 15 kWh/m2/yr
Typically 55 kWh/m2/yr

16. Minimum Carbon Dioxide Emissions Standards
The following are not covered within SAP at present but can be taken into account:
Cooling
LZC technologies not covered by SAP
Newer low energy technologies
Lighting
Appliance loads
Energy standards/methods will be based on those that you are familiar and working with at present. Most of this comes out of the SAP calculation so there is no additional demand for analysis to demonstrate compliance.

17. Tradable Credits Tradable credits awarded:
for higher performance levels in some key issues
for remaining issues
Broadly as in EcoHomes 2006
Location issues omitted
Some additional credits
Explain what tradable credits are so term doesn’t confuse people

18. Tradable Credits - Energy
Ene 1 - Dwelling Emission Rate (DER)
Additional credits available for achieving a higher scale percentage improvement over Building Regulations
Credits based on % improvement above Building Regulations part L1a instead of actual CO2/m2/year as under EcoHomes 2006

19. Tradable Credits - Energy
Ene 2 - Building Fabric
Credits awarded based on the Heat Loss Parameter obtained from the SAP calculations
HLP ≤ 1.1 or 1.3
Same as EcoHomes 2006

20. Tradable Credits - Energy
Ene 3 - Internal Lighting
Credits awarded based on the % of dedicated energy efficient light fittings
40% or 75% dedicated low energy light fittings
Same as EcoHomes 2006

21. Tradable Credits - Energy
Ene 5 - Energy Labelled White Goods
Provision of specific EU Energy Efficiency Labelled white goods or
EU Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme purchasing information.
Same requirement for social and private housing

22. Tradable Credits - Energy
Ene 6 - External Lighting
Credits awarded based on the provision of dedicated energy efficient light fittings
Or security lighting with movement detectors and daylight shut-off devices
Same as EcoHomes 2006

23. Tradable Credits - Energy
Ene 7 - Zero/Low Carbon Technologies
Credits for Zero/Low Carbon technologies where they make a significant contribution to the energy demands
1 credit: 10% carbon dioxide reduction
2 credits: 15% carbon dioxide reduction
2 instead of 3 credits
Credits for feasibility study only dropped
Off site generation may be accepted under certain criteria

24. Tradable Credits – Other Categories
Potable water consumption
External water consumption
Daylighting
Drying Space
Home Office
Cycle Storage
Materials – embodied impacts including CO2
Home User Guide
Building Footprint

25. Achieving Code Level 1 Energy – 10% improvement over TER
Meeting the Energy Requirements
Improved thermal efficiency of building fabric
Reduction in air permeability
High efficiency condensing boiler
Reduction of thermal bridging
Other mandatory requirements
Additional 33 optional points

26. Achieving Code Level 3 Energy – 25% improvement over TER
Meeting the Energy Requirements
Measures outlined for Code Level 1
Maximum benefit from cost effective ‘conventional’ solutions to fabric and systems efficiency
+ possible use of low or zero carbon technologies in some cases
Other mandatory requirements
Additional 47 optional points

27. Achieving Code Level 4 Energy – 44% improvement over TER
Meeting the Energy Requirements
High performance building fabric and efficient systems/controls
+ some use of low or zero carbon technologies
Other mandatory requirements
Additional 54 optional points

28. Achieving Code Level 5 Energy – 100% improvement over TER
Meeting the Energy Requirements
High performance building fabric and efficient systems/controls
+ significant use of low or zero carbon technologies (individual dwelling or community system).
No off site renewables unless independently accredited and ‘additional’.
Other mandatory requirements
Additional 60 optional points

29. Achieving Code Level 6
Energy – Approximately 145% improvement over TER
Meeting the Energy Requirements
Optimal performance building fabric and systems/controls
use of low or zero carbon technologies (individual dwelling or community system).
Likely to include use of off site renewables but must be:
independently accredited
‘additional’.
Other mandatory requirements
Additional 60 optional points

30. A Two-stage Process Design Stage Post Construction Review
Based on design drawings, specifications and commitments
Results in interim certificate of compliance +
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.

31. BRE – Innovation Park Houses

32. Food for thought
Achieving zero carbon is not easy but it is achievable
We have limited experience to date but a lot of knowledge to help
Code presents a tool for measuring and evaluating performance