The Code for Sustainable Homes is the UK benchmark to measure the sustainable design and construction of new residential buildings. It was officially launched on 13 December 2006, and was introduced as a voluntary standard in England in 2007. Since May 2008 all new-built homes that are marketed for sale are required to be rated against the scheme, although a nil rating is allowed. Many local planning authorities have set a minimimum Code for Sustainable Homes requirement as part of their planning policy.
The Code for Sustainable Homes measures the sustainability of a new home against categories of sustainable design, rating the ‘whole home’ as a complete package. The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home. The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and has general minimum standards for other categories such as site waste management and the collection of residential waste.
Achieving the more ambitious levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes requires thorough consideration and careful planning. Early consideration greatly improves the potential of including sustainability measures in a cost effective manner.
Within the Code for sustainable Homes methodology nine areas or categories of sustainability are considered. These are:
- Energy and carbon dioxide emissions
- Water
- Matrials
- Surface water run-off
- Waste
- Pollution
- Health and wellbeing
- Management
- Ecology
Not all categories contribute the same amount to the total CSH score. The three most important categories are: energy and carbon dioxide emissions, health and wellbeing and ecology. The graph to below shows the relative improtance of each of the none categories in terms of their maximum contribution.
