Code for Sustainable Homes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Code for Sustainable Homes is an environmental rating scheme for housing in England, under which new homes will be given a 'star rating' to indicate their environmental impact, ranging from level 1 to level 6 (high sustainability).

While officially launched on December 13, 2006, the technical guidance is not expected until April 2007. The Government owned scheme is a successor to the Building Research Establishment's EcoHomes rating scheme, first used in 2000. The Code for Sustainable Homes only applies to new build dwellings in England. EcoHomes will continue to run in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and for refurbishment projects througout the whole of the United Kingdom. Level 1 under the Code approximates to an EcoHomes "Pass" rating and Level 4 approximates to an "Excellent" rating.

The Code specifies standards in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, surface water management, site waste management, household waste management, and the use of materials.

1 Application
2 Reaction
3 See also
- 3.1 Compare to
4 External links

[edit] Application

The Code for Sustainable Homes is to be compulsory where public sector (Housing Corporation) funding is involved [1], but voluntary in the private sector.

In the consultation document Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero Carbon Development it is proposed that all new homes should be rated against the Code for Sustainable Homes from from April 2008, although it would not be necessary to comply with a minimum standard in the private sector.

[edit] Reaction

The scheme was welcomed by the WWF for putting zero carbon development at the top of the industry agenda [2], and by the Association for Environment Conscious Building [3]. Other reactions were generally welcoming, but with some reservations [4].

Views of the scheme were not always so positive; early drafts were heavily criticised by industry commentators, both for being unnecessary (due to it being apparently modelled on the existing EcoHomes scheme) and due to its contents [5]. In December 2005 the WWF representative on the Steering Group resigned "in despair" due to the failure of government to accept the Steering Group's advice and recommendations [6]. The Construction Products Association criticised the original proposals as being confusing [7].