The Code for Sustainable Homes
On 13th December 2006, the Department for Communities and Local Government launched the Code for Sustainable Homes - a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes.
How it works
The Code measures the 'whole home' as a complete package, assessing its sustainability against nine categories:
- energy/carbon dioxide
- water
- materials
- surface water run-off
- waste
- pollution
- health and well-being
- management
- ecology.
The minimum standards for Code compliance have been set above the requirements of Building Regulations. The Code is intended to signal the future direction of Building Regulations in relation to carbon emissions from energy use in the home, providing greater regulatory certainty for the homebuilding industry.
The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to show the overall sustainability performance of a new home. It sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level, which provides valuable information to home buyers and offers builders a tool with which to differentiate themselves in sustainability terms.
The levels of energy efficiency for the code (standard percentage better than Part L1A of the 2006 Building Regulations) are:
- level 1 - 10%
- level 2 - 18%
- level 3 - 25%
- level 4 - 44%
- level 5 - 100%
- level 6 - zero carbon.
Our guidance
Our 'Energy Efficiency and the Code for Sustainable Homes' is a suite of publications providing guidance and solutions for meeting the energy efficiency requirements of levels 3, 4, and 5 and 6. Scroll through below to download a copy of each publication. Note that there are plans to update this guidance in line with the 2010 Building Regulations changes.
Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 (June 2008 edition)
This publication is the first in a suite of Energy Saving Trust guides that provide technical guidance on designing and building new homes that meet the energy requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes. This guide addresses energy efficiency measures to meet, and in some instances, exceed minimum measures set down in level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Read the Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 (June 2008 edition)
Code for Sustainable Homes level 4 (May 2008 edition)
This guide addresses energy efficiency measures to meet, and in some instances, exceed minimum measures set down in code level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Read the Code for Sustainable Homes level 4 (May 2008 edition)
Code for Sustainable Homes levels 5 and 6 (May 2008 edition)
This publication is the third in the suite of code guides. This publication will help housing professionals meet energy efficiency requirements of levels 5 and 6
Read the Code for Sustainable Homes levels 5 and 6 (May 2008 edition)
Find out more
For further information and updates on the Code for Sustainable Homes, these sites will be useful:
