Home      Expertise    Services   Code    Projects     Links   Contact Us

WM Design & Architecture

 

Code for Sustainable Homes

The Code for Sustainable Homes was introduced in April 2007 following extensive consultation with environmental groups and the home building and wider construction industries.


The Code measures the sustainability of a home against nine design categories, rating the ‘whole home’ as a complete package. The design categories are as follows.


  1. •Energy and CO2 emissions

  2. •Water

  3. •Materials

  4. •Surface Water Runoff

  5. •Waste

  6. •Pollution

  7. •Health and Wellbeing

  8. •Management

  9. •Ecology


Each Category includes a number of environmental issues which have potential impact on the environment. The issues can be assessed against a performance target and awarded one or more credits. Performance targets are more demanding than the minimum standard needed to satisfy the building regulations or other legislation. They represent good or best practice, are technically feasible, and can be delivered by the building industry.


From 1st September 2010, all homes built in England and Wales will need to meet code level 3 as a minimum