Building Regulations
With the new Part L Building Regulations in force, the Code for Sustainable Homes and The Merton Rule being more widely adopted, building professionals face a huge change in building practices. Below we have summarised the code levels and what they mean.
The Code for Sustainable Homes
Code level 3
A home will need to be 25% more energy efficient compared to Part L 2006. This will require low carbon technologies such as Photovoltaic or (PV) modules. Current status – Mandatory for Social Housing since 2008. Mandatory for all private housing development since April 2010
Code level 4
A 44% improvement over 2006 part L Building Regulations must be achieved. This will usually require some PV modules. Current status – Mandatory for Social Housing since April 2010. Mandatory for all private housing development from April 2012
Code level 5
Requires a 100% improvement over 2006 part L Building Regulations. This will require all electricity to be provided from on-site renewable sources including Photovoltaic (PV) modules. As most urban and sub-urban sites will not be suitable for wind turbines, PV will proliferate as the best technology to guarantee these targets.
Introduction date TBC
Code level 6
Zero-Carbon will also require PV panels in order to replace entirely the energy taken from the national grid. The additional points to achieve a six-star rating must require investment in energy efficient appliances, reduction of surface water run-off, and the application of a site waste-management plan. Current status – Mandatory for all in 2016
The Merton Rule and Local Plans
(On-site renewable energy requirements)
All Local Authorities are required by government to publish a ‘Local Plan’ in which they set out their proposals to reduce local energy use and carbon emissions. In 2002 Merton Council developed a ground breaking local plan, which required new developments to supply 10% of their energy use from on-site renewable sources.
Many local authorities, including all those in Greater London have increased the requirement to 20%. Increasing numbers of local authorities have adopted it and many more are developing similar ‘On-site renewable energy requirement’ plans. If you don’t already have SBEM calculations for your development we can recommend an assessor. Once you have SBEM calculations we can quickly put together a quote for a PV system that will achieve the requirement.
Photovoltaics or PV is the simplest renewable technology option to install. PV can be designed into the building or added as a remedial measure to help a non-compliant building to pass building regulations.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s)
Attract buyers and tenants.
Installing PV can help owners achieve higher EPC energy ratings that, in turn, will be attract and retain buyers and tenants.
Commercial EPCs
From the first of October 2008 it will be mandatory that: when any commercial premises is to be offered for sale or for let there should be a CEPC available to show to a prospective tenant or purchaser. Examples of these include: Government Buildings, Display Retail Units, Offices, Shops, Industrial Units, Hotels, new build commercial units and New Build Homes.
Displayed EPC’s
Central & Local Government Buildings under Local Authority control will be required to display energy certificates where the public has access. This will be extended to corporate and commercial buildings during 2008.
Social Housing EPC’s
These will be required for all Local Authority and private landlords buildings in England and Wales from October 2008. This has significant implications for registered social landlords RSL’s.
Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC)
Energy Efficiency Scheme
The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly known as the Carbon Reduction Commitment) is the UK’s mandatory climate change and energy saving scheme, due to start in April 2010.
Organisations are eligible for CRC if they (and their subsidiaries) have at least one half-hourly electricity meter (HHM) settled on the half-hourly market. They also qualify if their total half-hourly electricity consumption exceeded 6,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) during 2008. (£500,000 annual electricity bill). Initially, it is estimated around 5,000 organisations will qualify, including supermarkets, water companies, banks, local authorities and all central Government Departments. Qualifying organisations will have to comply legally with the scheme or face financial and other penalties.
The scheme will cover large public and private sector organisations, which are responsible for about 10 percent of the UK’s emissions. This will affect around 20,000 organisations.
CRC is designed to improve energy efficiency in large organisations. It will operate as a ‘cap and trade’ mechanism, providing a financial incentive to reduce energy use by putting a price on carbon emissions from energy use. In CRC, organisations buy allowances equal to their annual emissions. The overall emissions reduction target is achieved by placing a ‘cap’ on the total allowances available to each group of CRC participants. Within that overall limit, individual organisations can determine the most cost-effective way to reduce their emissions. By investing in PV companies can decrease the number of allowances they need to buy.
All the money raised through the allowances will be recycled back to participants, according to how well they perform. The scheme features an annual performance league table that ranks participants on energy efficiency performance. Together with the financial and reputational considerations, the scheme encourages organisations to develop energy management strategies that promote a better understanding of energy consumption.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has developed the CRC policy that is designed to tackle CO2 emissions not already covered by Climate Change Agreements and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. For more information please download the below user guide, and if you have any questions please contact us on 01582 840 445.
*The Carbon Reduction Commitment User Guide (pdf 4.82mb)
