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Code for Sustainable Homes could be better

The Governments new Code for Sustainable Homes, launched today, has received a mixed reception. BRE were pleased to see the project, in which they had played a major part, coming to fruition. But the Construction Products Association had some reservations. And Friends of the Earth said it should be compulsory.

The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) is based on EcoHomes with BRE and DCLG having worked together to ensure the new assessment method meets the latest regulatory requirements and addresses the issues that emerged from an earlier industry wide consultation.

The Construction Products Association, welcomed the principles of the Code but expressed disappointment that it does not provide greater recognition for manufacturers and suppliers who have developed sustainable building materials. The Association’s Chief Executive, Michael Ankers pointed out: "Many companies in the industry have developed products that set high standards on sustainability, but unfortunately the Code does not give them significant recognition. Equally important, because of the way the Code allocates points for sustainable materials, there is little encouragement for manufacturers with less sustainable products to improve their products."

" This could lead to very energy and water efficient new homes being built using materials with high environmental impact. It is important that when the Code is reviewed it takes account of the emerging European Standards in this area and provides real incentives and rewards for manufacturers and suppliers who take these issues seriously."

The Code will replace EcoHomes for new homes in England from 1st April 2007 and will run as a fully functional scheme with a network of Licensed Assessors ready to provide Code certification from Spring next year. It is however, still a voluntary scheme and developers will decide for themselves whether to build to it's standards or not.

Hugh Ellis for Friends of the Earth said, "The Code for Sustainable Homes contains lots of positive recommendations, but unless it is made mandatory it is unlikely to have a significant effect. We have limited time to make the cuts in carbon dioxide emissions which are needed. Carbon zero homes could be built now - so why wait ten years before insisting that builders construct them."

Many house builders currently using EcoHomes will find the Code very familiar, however, there are differences, the main one being required levels of performance across six key areas - energy efficiency, water efficiency, surface water management, site waste management, household waste management, and use of materials.

Under the Code compliance should be reviewed at the design stage, and final certification carried out upon completion of construction (under EcoHomes most homes are certified at the Design Stage). New points for Lifetime Homes, Security and Zero Carbon Technologies have been added and only the EcoHomes transport credits have been omitted.

Ankers believes the success of the Code will depend on four key issues:

• All local authorities using the code as the basis for developing their sustainable housing and abandoning the current plethora of confusing solutions that are not necessarily delivering efficient carbon savings.

• Private house builders adopting the Code as a basis for marketing their houses in the future

• Government using the framework set by the Code as the basis for the development of future building regulations.

• Establishing a clear mechanism for developing and updating the Code and into which all the key stakeholders will have an input.

And finally, Ankers addressed the thorny issue of the existing, inefficent housing stock.. "The Code is an important step forward for new housing, but we must not forget that the big wins in terms of carbon savings are in the existing housing stock, which is typically four times less energy efficient than housing built in accordance with the latest building regulations. Improving the existing housing stock by 1% each year would save more energy than making the entire housing new build, zero carbon. We have been disappointed that the Government has so far not done more to incentivise householders to make their homes more energy efficient in the way that is happening in Germany. Only by a greater focus on existing housing will the UK have any chance of reaching the ambitious targets that the Government has set for reducing carbon emissions."

BRE will be holding a number of free events in the New Year to explain the Code and details of these can be found at www.bre.co.uk/ events. For information on the code visit www.communities.gsi.gov.uk or call DCLG Press Office 0207 944 3049.

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