What is the Code for Sustainable homes?
The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) was introduced in 2007 and made mandatory for all new
housing from 1 May 2008, and sets minimum standards for the sustainability of a home against nine design categories, rating the ‘whole home’ as a complete package.
 |
With greater demand for homes that offer reduced environmental impact, lower running costs and feature that enhance health and well-being, there is an increase need for private housebuilders to demonstrate their capacity in sustainable home building, and to market the sustainability of their homes to homebuyers.
|
The CSH provides a tool for house builders to demonstrate the sustainability performance of their homes, and to differentiate themselves from competitors. Social housing landlords and Housing Associations constructing new homes are also required to meet the criteria in the CSH.
Designers and property owners of non-domestic buildings can assess their environmental performance by using the BREEAM Environmental Assessment. Method obtainable from BRE (www.breeam.org).
How is the sustainability of a house rated under the CSH?
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.
From April 2010, public sector funded new build homes must meet a four star level efficiency rating and for the first time, private new build homes will be required to adhere to the code, but at the lower level of three stars. The status of Lifetime Homes aims at achieving Code Level 6 (****** rating) or zero carbon from 2016 onwards.
The Code for Sustainable Homes gives maximum credit for materials which provide the best environmental performance based on the BRE ‘Green Guide to Specification’, which identifies the environmental impact of over 1,500 products used in buildings, rating each product from A+ to E. These products form the roof, external walls, internal walls, upper and ground floors and windows. By using products which have a higher rating, between one and 15 credits can be achieved which go towards the energy efficiency star rating of the building. In assessing the product, the BRE Green Guide not only looks at the overall finished product, but also considers how the materials are sourced.
What are the maximum points available for the roofing and wall elements within the CSH?
The total number of points available for the Materials category is 24 which accounts for 7.20% weighting of the maximum number of credits available. The Environmental Impact of Materials accounts for a maximum of 15 points with Responsible Sourcing of Materials – (basic building elements) accounting for an additional 6 points. Using the generic 'Green Guide' A+ rating for concrete tiles, fibre cement slates and clay tiles, a maximum of 3 credits is achievable for a conventional pitched roof, using 100mm mineral wool between joists with a further 200mm over joists. Choosing products which achieve a lower rating, will reduce the credits awarded
A rating = 2 points; B rating =1 point; C, D or E =0 points.
How can the use of Marley Eternit’s roofing and cladding products help achieve a maximum points score with CSH?
Marley Eternit’s range of concrete and clay tiles, fibre cement slates, profiled sheets and cladding can achieve an A+ in the BRE ‘Green Guide’ and as such provide the maximum number of credits available for the roof and walls when using the calculation methodology in the CSH.