The Construction Products Association and the Home Builders Federation (HBF) have teamed up to work out how the construction industry can deliver the government’s zero carbon targets for new build homes. A first draft of the plan will be issued this month.

Zero carbon means all new build homes need to generate as much, or more, energy as they use. It will equate to a code level six (see box) in the new Code for Sustainable Homes which will come into force in June this year.

Last month, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper called for a ”revolution” in the way new homes are built. She told delegates at a HBF summit: “We need new partnerships between housebuilders, utility companies and local councils to deliver local and renewable energy and we need to develop the environmental technologies of the future.”

The Construction Product Association’s industry affairs director, John Tebbit, believes that delivery of zero carbon homes by 2016 is entirely possible, but requires a detailed roadmap so the industry implements best practice. “There are so many issues not yet on the critical path,” he said. “It’s easy enough to deliver a one-off example of a zero carbon home but making it work for the hundreds of thousands that will be required each year is an entirely different matter.”

Tebbit added. “We need to build a number of high code houses now so that we can see what technology is needed, whether that technology actually works in practice, and see if we’ve got the design and construction approach right.”

But Tebbit warned that CPA’s roadmap will not be definitive. “It’s a plan, not the plan.

If someone comes to us and says they can deliver aspects more quickly than we’ve said, then we’d be happy for them to show how it can be done.”

Code for Sustainable Homes

The Code for Sustainable Homes will rate new homes from one to six stars. A one-star home will use 10% less energy than a house built to the current Part L regulations and a six-star home will be a zero carbon one.

The assessment method, which is being finalised and is due out in April, will be based on BRE’s EcoHomes system.

Houses will be checked during design and samples of
as-built homes will also be tested before a certificate is issued to the developer.

The code is voluntary, although it will be used as EcoHomes is in the public sector and the government says it is considering making it mandatory in the future.

Source

Construction Manager