After I blogged about the various codes, guidelines and schemes I’ve seen mentioned in magazines, and admitted my confusion, I received an email from Martin Lawless of MTT/Sustain, an energy and sustainability consultancy. Martin kindly explained the relationship between the Code for Sustainable Homes, BRE’s EcoHomes, and BREEAM. He has generously given permission for me to blog it, as he explains things with more clarity than I could manage!
The Code for Sustainable Homes, ‘The Code’ or ‘CSH’, was launched in April 2007, superseding the environmental assessment method EcoHomes. It introduces a single national standard to be used in the design and construction of new homes in England, based on the BRE’s EcoHomes scheme, but with more challenging targets. From May 2008 a CSH rating is mandatory for all new homes built in England.
The Code sets out six increasingly demanding levels for the environmental performance of new homes, with minimum standards for energy and water use, surface water management, site waste management, household waste management and the use of materials.
Each level sets stringent standards, particularly with regard to energy (measured with respect to dwelling carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions) and water consumption.
The Code is initially voluntary, with the exception of registered social landlords, who currently have to build to a minimum of Code Level 3. For all granted-funded homes the minimum standard of CSH compliance to be three years in advance of the national standard is required. At present all properties are being designed and built to level 3 standard with the target of zero carbon set for 2013.
Adoption of the Code is intended to encourage continuous improvement in sustainable home building. Performance targets are proposed which are in excess of the minimum needed to satisfy Building Regulations; but are generally considered to be sound best practice, technically feasible, and within the capability of the building industry to provide.
There are three approaches to encourage performance in these categories within the code:
1. Minimum standards at each Level - energy efficiency of the property and water consumption
2. Minimum standards for Code compliance at any Level - materials, surface water run-off and waste
3. No minimum standards - pollution, health & well being, management and ecology
Mandatory Post Construction Reviews (PCRs) dictate that what is built should be as what was proposed and so meticulous document management is essential during construction.
The Code for Sustainable Homes is administered by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), but the scheme technically belongs to the Department for Communities and Local Government.
BREEAM (the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) has been around for a number of years and has a variety of forms for differing building types (offices/industrial/retail/prisons etc).
The BREEAM Office at BRE created and continues to run the Code for Sustainable Homes predecessor EcoHomes (which now only really applies to dwelling refurbishments and to dwellings not in England).
