Code for Sustainable Homes Guide

The Code for Sustainable Homes applies to Sustainable homes Berkshire, Thames Valley and the rest of England. It covers nine Categories of environmental impact, each of which has a number of Issues, totalling 34 in all. The Code assigns particular criteria to each of the Issues. When each performance requirement is achieved, credits are awarded. The total number of credits available to a Category is the sum of credits available for all of the Issues within it.

The Code for Sustainable Homes Guide for Sustainable homes Berkshire and elsewhere in the country turns the CHS requirements into a 3-step process:


Step 1

Mandatory minimum standards are set for some issues. For four of these issues, a single mandatory requirement must be met irrespective of the Code level rating sought. No credits are awarded for meeting the requirements of these issues. The four issues are: 

Environmental impact of materials

Management of Surface Water runoff from developments

Storage of non-recyclable and recyclable household waste

Construction site waste management

Step 2

There are a further three mandatory issues that need to be considered and for which credits are also awarded. For two issues, credits are awarded according to the level of achievement recognised in the Code. In this case, the mandatory requirements increase where Code levels increase. The two issues are:

Dwelling emission rate (DER)

Indoor water use

The final issue with a mandatory requirement for achieving Code level 6 is:

Lifetime Homes

Step 3

Further 'tradable' credits are available based on choice so that developers can decide which performance credits they wish to aim for to achieve the desired Code rating.


The environmental impact Categories of the Code are not of equal importance as each category is weighted according to its importance. Once the credits for a Category have been added up they are multiplied by the weighting factor to determine the number of points. The total number of points determines the Code Level achieved.

 

Ready to talk?

Simply contact us today, or find out more about us, our approach and CSH &EcoHomes. Alternatively, you can visit our client area or get help with your Ecohomes Requirements and BREEAM assessments and discover the range of other services we provide.

 

Proport Eco-Services – providing the Code for Sustainable Homes, helping to build Sustainable homes Berkshire, Thames Valley, M4 corridor and surrounding areas