COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (079) issued by The Government News Network
on 5 April 2007
Technical guidance
to help the building industry deliver key improvements to the
energy efficiency of new homes has been published by Communities
and Local Government.
As the Code for Sustainable Homes comes into effect, the manual
sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a
Code assessment is reached. It aims to make the system of gaining
a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible.
It will help deliver homes which use less energy and produce fewer
harmful carbon dioxide emissions as well as cutting down on water
used and waste generated. The Code will also give homeowners
better information about the running costs of their homes.
The Government has set the ambitious aim that all new Homes will
be zero carbon by 2016 and the Code will be the measure by which
this target is assessed. The guidance will explain to Code
Assessors, home builders, product manufacturers and consumers in a
simple and transparent way how the Code levels can be achieved.
Communities and Local Government Minister Angela Smith said:
"Homes account for more than a quarter of carbon emissions
and it is vital that we act now to tackle climate change from as
many fronts as possible. Building the right type of sustainable
homes for future generations is one way in which we can help
achieve a 60 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050.
"This guidance explains to the building industry, but also
crucially to the public, how new homes can deliver real
environmental improvements in key areas like water and energy use.
It will also play a real part in helping us all understand how we
use the homes we live in and how we can do our bit to help tackle
climate change".
Notes to Editors
1. The guide was drafted by the BREEM Centre at the Building
Research Establishment. It can be found here: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115314116927.html
2. The Code for Sustainable Homes was published on 13 December by
Secretary of State Ruth Kelly. Further information can be found
here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1506120
3. Voluntary assessment against the Code 'goes live' on
10 April. We consulted on requiring mandatory Code ratings from
April next year in the consultation document Building a Greener
Future which can be found here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1505157.
Consultation responses are currently being assessed.
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