The Foundation for the Code:
Industries throughout the world are becoming more and more regulated to address the immediate issue of carbon emissions. And rightly so. Nowadays, carbon emissions and their dramatic relationship with climate change is common knowledge. Lesser known is the fact that the environmental impacts of climate change are set to become far greater before they get any better.
The Kyoto Protocol was established in Kyoto Japan in 1997. It formed a united commitment among industrialised countries to reduce specific greenhouse gases. The UK government signed the Protocol in 2005 and in doing so agreed to meet the tough targets set on an incrementing basis from then until 2020. Regulating industry quickly became a necessary tool employed by the British Government to align industry operations with the Protocol objectives to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Housing alone accounts for more than 25% of the UK's total carbon emissions. Regulating the way in which new homes are built in Britain to reduce carbon emissions is being directed by a national standard known as The Code for Sustainable Homes.
What is the Code for Sustainable Homes?
'The Code' was introduced in December 2006 and was developed to enable a step by step change in sustainable building practice for new homes. It initially set off as a voluntary standard (which to some extent it remains today) designed to guide industry in the design and construction of sustainable homes. Through progressive steps the government is set to enforce mandatory 'levels' en-route to the desired goal of all new builds being carbon neutral by 2016. Presently, Code level 3 is mandatory in England on all new developments undertaken on government owned land and building standards in Scotland are set to be further revised in October to align with Code level 3.
How does the Code Work?
The Code utilises a star rating system which directly reflects the overall sustainability of a new dwelling (or multiple development of dwellings). The sustainability of a home is rated against nine design categories which combine to give an assessment of the whole home as a complete package. The rating system is represented by levels ranging from level 1 to level 6; Level 1 (or one star rating) is the entry level - above the level of building regulations and level 6 (or six star rating) is the highest level - reflecting exemplar development in sustainability terms. 'Points' are awarded based on how well the categories are represented. Minimum standards exist for a number of these categories - for example, energy and water efficiency (considering the integral part these categories play in the sustainability of any new home). Aside from this, the Code is completely flexible - home builders can choose which and how many standards they implement in order to obtain points which in turn determines their sustainability rating.
What are the Design Categories and Minimum Standards?
There are nine design categories; Energy, Water, Materials, Surface water run off, Waste, Pollution, Health and well-being, Management and Ecology. For detailed information on these design categories click link.
Minimum standards are required at each level of the Code for the Energy and Water categories. Minimum standards are required at Code entry level for the Materials, Surface water run-off & Waste categories. The remaining four categories have no minimum standards required. For detailed information on the minimum standards for each category click link.
How is the Code assessed?
The Code is assessed by certified assessors. An initial design phase assessment is carried out and an initial sustainability rating is presented. An interim Code level certificate is issued during this design phase which is later verified by a post-completion sustainability survey. Following this, the Code level is confirmed and a final Code certificate of compliance is issued.
There are currently over 800 accredited Code assessors located throughout Great Britain. Please contact Fleming Homes for help locating an assessor in your area.
Where does Fleming Homes fit in with the Code?
Those familiar with Fleming Homes' design service will know that it is totally bespoke. This means that each and every design project undertaken by our designers is essentially created from a blank sheet of paper and established to reflect the design brief directed by the individual client. The Code of Sustainable Homes relies purely on the design of a new dwelling to effectively reflect the Code categories to achieve a particular rating. Incorporating those features into a design which will aid the accumulation of points is the key to obtaining a successful rating. Many of the boxes are already ticked - for example, our chosen building fabric; Timber. (Timber is widely accepted as one of the most sustainable construction methods available which is reflected favourably in the Code points system). Many of the other boxes can be ticked by our design service through specific Code related consultation.
Any specific Code rating is influenced heavily by minimum standards. Fleming Homes currently has a standard specification based around current mandatory building standards. A major player in the Code for Sustainable Homes (and in any timber frame supplier's specification) is thermal efficiency. In conjunction with mandatory standards increasing in October 2010, Fleming Homes has introduced three tiers of specification which not only addresses these changes but offers practical and cost effective insulating solutions to the client - which will significantly contribute toward any Code rating.
Like our design service and our specification, the Code rating system is flexible so there are many ways in which points can be obtained. The key is emphasising those points that directly relate to your individual project.
For more information about your project and the Code for Sustainable Homes contact us for some friendly advice.
