You may not have heard the phrase 'Sustainable Home' or its older name ‘EcoHome’ and so here is an explanation
In short, it is a system of measuring the environmental performance of your home. It considers the broad environmental concerns of climate change, resource use, and impact on wildlife, but balances these against the needs for a high quality, safe and healthy internal environment.
It looks at issues in nine categories.
- Energy/CO2
- Pollution
- Water
- Health and well-being
- Materials
- Management
- Surface water run-off
- Ecology
- Waste
The Code uses a sustainability rating system – indicated by ‘stars’, 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.
The sustainability rating which a home achieves represents its overall performance across the nine Code design categories. Minimum standards exist for a number of categories – these must be achieved to gain a one star (*) sustainability rating. Energy efficiency and water efficiency categories also have minimum standards that must be achieved at every level of the Code, recognising their importance to the sustainability of any home.
Benefits of building to the Code
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: With minimum standards for energy efficiency at each level of the Code, there will be a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to the environment. This will enable us to reduce the threat from climate change.
Better adaptation to climate change: The Building Regulations (Approved Document L – 2006) already limit the effects of solar gains in Summer. With minimum standards for water efficiency at each level of the Code, and other measures in the Code, including better management of surface water run-off, our future housing stock will be better adapted to cope with the impacts of climate change which are already inevitable.
Reduced impact on the environment overall: Inclusion of measures which, for example, promote the use of less polluting materials, and encourage household recycling, will ensure that our future housing stock has fewer negative impacts overall on the environment.
Lower running costs: Homes built to Code standard will have lower running costs through greater energy and water efficiency than homes not built to the Code standard, so helping to reduce fuel poverty.
Improved comfort and satisfaction: Homes built to the Code will enhance the comfort and satisfaction of tenants.
Assisting choice: The Code will provide valuable information to homebuyers on the sustainability performance of different homes, assisting them in their choice of a new home.
Reducing environmental ‘footprint’: By asking for a new home which meets the Code standard, consumers will be able to encourage industry to build more sustainable homes, and reduce their own ‘footprint’ on the environment.
Lower running costs: Homes built to Code standard will have lower running costs through greater energy and water efficiency than homes not built to the Code standard, so helping to reduce fuel poverty.
Improved well-being: Homes built to Code standard will provide a more pleasant and healthy place to live, for example with more natural light, and adaptability for future needs.
