Earth UK

Code for Sustainable Homes

Our homes account for around 27% of the UK's carbon emissions, a major cause of climate change. The Department for Communities and Local Government laid the foundations for greener housing when it launched the Code for Sustainable Homes in 2007. Since May 2008 all new homes are required to have Code rating against the Code and for a Code certificate to be included within the Home Information Pack (HIP).

What is a Code Home?

Code homes are built to the standards set in the Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code). They are more energy and water efficient, produce fewer carbon emissions and are better for the environment.Code homes also encourage their owners to live a more sustainable lifestyle and are built in a more efficient way, using materials from sustainable sources. This creates less waste and also means Code homes have lower running costs. There are nine categories in the Code covering energy, water, the materials used in the home through to health and well being and pollution with points assigned to each category. When a builder chooses to incorporate a specific feature they are awarded points, which when added together, form the basis of a hotel-style star rating system.

The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level. The rating a home receives depends on how it measures up in nine categories:

• Energy and CO2 Emissions
• Pollution
• Water
• Health and Well being
• Materials
• Management
• Surface Water Run-off
• Ecology