Code for sustainable homes

The Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) was introduced in England in April 2007 as a voluntary national standard to improve the overall sustainability of new homes by setting a single framework within which the home building industry can design and construct homes to higher environmental standards. Where it is used the Code also gives new homebuyers information about the environmental impact of their new home and its potential running costs. The Code measures the sustainability of a home against nine design categories, rating the 'whole home' as a complete package. The design categories are: Energy and CO • 2 Emissions Water • Materials • Surface Water Runoff • Waste • Pollution • Heath and Wellbeing • Management • Ecology • The Code uses a rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a home. A home can achieve a sustainability rating from one to six stars depending on the extent to which it has achieved Code standards. One star is the entry level – above the level of the Building Regulations; and six stars is the highest level – reflecting exemplar development in sustainability terms. Assessment procedures are based on BRE Global Limited's EcoHomes System which depends on a network of specifically trained and accredited independent assessors. Currently BRE Global Limited and Stroma Accreditation Limited can offer training and accreditation of Code assessors. Since May 2008 all new homes will have to have a sustainability certificate in the Home Information Pack. That can be in the form of a Code certificate if the home has been assessed against Code standards or, if it has not been assessed, a 'nil-rated' certificate. A nil-rated certificate can be downloaded from the HIP website: The case studies cover a range of social and private housing, using a variety of different build systems or materials, and that achieved a range of Code standards. The research has helped to further develop and improve the operation of the Code. The case studies also include key learning points that should help those who decide to build to Code standards. The projects included in this report are: Stawell, rural private housing to Code level 5 • by ECOS Homes CO2 Zero, urban private live-work units to • Code level 5 by Logic CDS Ltd Mid Street, semi-rural social housing to Code • level 5 by Raven Housing Trust Norbury Court, urban social housing • to Code level …