The Code for Sustainable Homes

The Code measures the 'whole home' as a complete package, assessing its sustainability against nine categories:

• Energy/CO₂
• 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 home carbon emissions from and energy use, 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:

• Code level 1 - 10%.
• Code level 2 - 18%.
• Code level 3 - 25%.
• Code level 4 - 44%.
• Code level 5 - 100%.
• Code level 6 - zero carbon.

Energy Saving Trust guidance

The Energy Saving Trust '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&6. Scroll through below to download a copy of each publication.