Achieving Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 for Energy
The Code for Sustainable Homes is a voluntary code, developed by the Government, intended as a single national standard to guide industry in the design and construction of sustainable homes.
The Code includes a series of design categories of which Energy/carbon dioxide emissions form one part. For Energy the Code stipilates a series of code level targets from the lowest 1, to the highest 6. Code level 6 represents a zero carbon home.
Code level 3 is a target that is now actively being met by developers and builders. Whilst being a voluntary code, it is intended that there will be changes to the existing building regulations so that in 2010 code level 3 is likely to represent the minimum permissable standard in order to comply with the regulations. In practical terms this means a 25% improvement (lowering) in Carbon Dioxide emission rates for dwellings from the standards that currently exist.
In order to achieve compliance with code level 3 of the Code For Sustainable Homes the dwelling carbon dioxide emission rate (DER), expressed in terms of Kg carbon dioxide, emitted per square metre floor area of the dwelling, per year, needs to show in excess of a 25% improvement over the target carbon dioxide emission rate (TER).
Detailed below are some actual examples of how this can be achieved, based upon real dwellings that are currently under construction. It must be stressed that each development is unique and builders/developers are strongly advised to commission modelling of SAP ratings in order to calculate the DER / TER comparison at an early stage in the design process. Please contact us to discuss how we can help.