The Government?s code for sustainable homes makes the installation of gas boilers in new homes from 2016 practically redundant.
As you may be aware the ?Code for Sustainable Homes? is the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. The Code aims to reduce carbon emissions and create more sustainable homes.
The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against categories of sustainable design, rating the ?whole home? as a complete package. The minimum standards for Code compliance have been set above the requirements of Building Regulations, and within England, this replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
The Code is intended to signal the future direction of Building Regulations in relation to carbon emissions from energy use in the home, providing greater regulatory certainty for the home-building industry. The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to show the overall sustainability performance of a new home. It sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level, which provides valuable information to home buyers and offers builders a tool with which to differentiate themselves in sustainability terms.
The levels of energy efficiency for the code (standard percentage better than Part L1A of the 2006 Building Regulations) are:
| Code Level | By When |
|---|---|
| Level 1 - 10% | |
| Level 2 - 18% | |
| Level 3 - 25% | Today |
| Level 4 - 44% | |
| Level 5 - 100% | |
| Level 6 - Zero Carbon | By 2016 |
So are gas boilers a thing of the past and only going to be seen in museums after 2016 ? well not necessarily, but it will be far easier to achieve the overall carbon rating required by installing renewable heating and power generation systems instead.
So the key question is clearly which renewable energy options are best and most cost effective for each specific building design/project. Will it be Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Biomass, Air or Ground source heat pumps or a wind turbine, and how can these technologies best be integrated within the design of the building.
As you might imagine there is no single answer to this question but as experts in the specification and installation of the complete range of renewable technologies, we at EnergyMyWay would be happy to discuss your specific projects and to advise what solutions would best meet your objectives.
Contact me
If you would like advice on the complete range of renewable energy solutions for your next project, or like us to hold an open discussion or seminar with your architects to explain more about how renewable energy generation can help achieve the code for sustainable homes requirements please visit the Cheshire East regional page or call me (Charles) on 0161 917 2715 or mobile 07734 973450 or email me at charles.holland@energymyway.co.uk. I?d be delighted to help you.
