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What Is the Code for Sustainable Homes?

A New National Standard

The Code for Sustainable Homes has been developed to enable a step change in sustainable building practice for new homes. It has been prepared by the Government in close working consultation with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA), and through consultation with a Senior Steering Group consisting of Government, industry and NGO representatives. The Code is intended as a single national standard to guide industry in the design and construction of sustainable homes. It is a means of driving continuous improvement, greater innovation and exemplary achievement in sustainable home building.

The Code will complement the system of Energy Performance Certificates which is being introduced in June 2007 under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The EPBD will require that all new homes (and in due course other homes, when they are sold or leased) have an Energy Performance Certificate providing key information about the energy efficiency/carbon performance of the home. Energy assessment under the Code will use the same calculation methodology therefore avoiding the need for duplication. In the short-term, Code compliance is voluntary but home builders are encouraged to follow Code principles set out in this publication because the Government is considering making assessment under Code standards mandatory in the future.

A Set of Sustainable Design Principles

The Code measures the sustainability of a home against design categories, rating the ‘whole home’ as a complete package. Those familiar with building regulations, will recognise this as a major and welcome departure from current practice.
The design categories included within the Code are:

A Standard Which Builds Upon Existing Systems

The Code for Sustainable Homes has been developed using the Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) EcoHomes System, which has already achieved success in reducing the impact of affordable housing projects, in particular within the social housing sector. The Code builds upon EcoHomes in a number of ways, for example:

BRE will continue to maintain and operate the EcoHomes scheme during the transition to the Code. The Code sits alongside the planning system which guides sustainability in broader locational and aesthetic issues

A Mark of Quality

In this era, with a more environmentally-conscious public, aware of the urgent need to limit their effects on climate change, there is a growing appetite amongst consumers for more sustainable products and services. With greater demand for homes that offer reduced environmental impact, lower running costs and features that enhance health and well-being, there is an increased need for home builders to demonstrate their capacity in sustainable home building, and to market the sustainability of their homes to homebuyers. The Code for Sustainable Homes offers a tool for home builders to demonstrate the sustainability performance of their homes, and to differentiate themselves from their competitors.

A Signal for the Future

TThe Code is closely linked to Building Regulations, which are the minimum building standards required by law. Minimum standards for Code compliance have been set above the requirements of Building Regulations. It is intended that the Code will signal the future direction of Building Regulations in relation to carbon emissions from, and energy use in homes, providing greater regulatory certainty for the homebuilding industry.

For further reading on the Code for Sustainable Homes, please select one of the following:

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