Code For Sustainable Homes

From April 2008, all new planning applications in England will have to "reference" the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH).  This code sets out a star rating from 1 to 6 where 1 represents a slight improvement on Part L of the Building Regulations and 6 is zero carbon, which will be mandatory for all new houses from 2016.

Nine categories of sustainable design are measured including energy, water and waste.  Points are gained for a whole range of features including the environmental impact of how materials were sourced, provision of a home office, energy sources and the provision of low-energy white goods.

The effect of the requirement to "reference" the Code is that it will become necessary to assess the property against the Code and to achieve a star rating.  Some authorities including Gloucestershire, Nottingham and some Lodon boroughs already require a minimum 3-star rating.

Reaching a 3-star standard imposes a maximum water use of 105 litres per person per day.  At present, the average UK home ucrrently uses 150 litres per person per day.  So, attention will have to be paid to efficient water usage, sustainable drainage, limiting surface water run-off and minimising the home's ecological impact.

Renewables are essential to meet zero carbon standards in new homes.

Zero-Carbon Roadmap