Technical guidance to improve the energy efficiency of new homes published

Technical guidance to help the building industry deliver key improvements to the energy efficiency of new homes has been published by Communities and Local Government. The guide was drafted by the BREEM Centre at the Building Research Establishment, taking the form of a manual for builders and home buyers, describing the code's requirements and the assessment process.

As the Code for Sustainable Homes comes into effect, the manual sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached. It aims to make the system of gaining a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible. It will help deliver homes that use less energy and produce fewer harmful carbon dioxide emissions as well as cutting down on water used and waste generated. The Code will also give homeowners better information about the running costs of their homes.

Voluntary assessment against the Code ‘goes live’ on 10 April. The consultation regarding this move can be found in the document Building a Greener Future. Consultation responses are currently being assessed. House builders can from now  elect to be assessed against the Code for Sustainable Homes, using the new government guidance.

The code, a star rating system for the sustainable design and construction of new homes, replaces the EcoHomes scheme within England.
The Government has set the ambitious aim that all new Homes will be zero carbon by 2016 and the Code will be the measure by which this target is assessed. The guidance will explain to Code Assessors, home builders, product manufacturers and consumers in a simple and transparent way how the Code levels can be achieved.

Communities and Local Government Minister Angela Smith said: ‘Homes account for more than a quarter of carbon emissions and it is vital that we act now to tackle climate change from as many fronts as possible. Building the right type of sustainable homes for future generations is one way in which we can help achieve a 60 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050.

‘This guidance explains to the building industry, but also crucially to the public, how new homes can deliver real environmental improvements in key areas like water and energy use. It will also play a real part in helping us all understand how we use the homes we live in and how we can do our bit to help tackle climate change.’

Background

The Code for Sustainable Homes was published on 13 December 2006 by Secretary of State Ruth Kelly. Further information can be found online.