Energy, Sustainability and Services

2.64  General - Government is committed to improving energy efficiency as part of wider environmental issues and concerns.  These issues and concerns include:

The above points should be taken into account when undertaking all building projects with full awareness of the latest proven energy saving techniques demonstrated.

2.65  Costs - should also be considered including: the cost of production of energy; design and manufacture of energy using appliances; the further costs of purchase, installation, use and maintenance, safety in operation, life expectancy, and potential for re-use.  The Association has influence over the standards of insulation specified, the form and specification of central heating and domestic hot water systems, their control systems and the energy management systems to be applied.  The objectives in general terms are to achieve maximum energy efficiency, and minimal environmental impact, heat loss, and running costs.

2.66  Energy Management Systems [EMS] - sophisticated EMS are more suited to “grouped flats” where a form of district heating or combined heat and power system [CHP] is provided.  EMS may therefore be considered where any form of commercial individually metered central heating and domestic hot water is provided.

2.67  Combined Heat and Power Systems [CHP] – there is now renewed interest in communal heating schemes, particularly CHP, given the considerable technological advances.  CHP systems are now more easily controlled from the user and landlord/maintenance perspectives.  CHP produces electricity with the high temperature heat created as a by product being distributed to adjacent properties, the potential efficiency of CHP being 90% as opposed to conventional power stations with an efficiency rate of only 35%.

2.68  Other Measures – detailed operating instructions should be provided to the user occupier for all heating and management systems.  A maintenance manual should be prepared by the client as the basic specification for repair and upkeep and as a condition of any contract let for that purpose.  Consideration should be given to heat exchange transfer through air extraction.  Its effectiveness is not dependent on weather, orientation, solar gain or exposure of site.

2.69  Code for Sustainable Homes - There is now a body of scientific evidence showing that climate change is a serious and urgent issue. More than a quarter of our carbon dioxide emissions, a major cause of climate change, comes from the energy we use to heat, light and run our homes. So it is vital to ensure that homes are built in a way that minimises the use of energy and reduces these harmful emissions.

The Code for Sustainable Homes (which replaced 'EcoHomes’ standards for new build self contained units) has been developed to drive a step-change in sustainable building practice for new homes. It is a standard for key elements of design and construction which affect the sustainability of a new home. The Code complements the system of Energy Performance Certificates under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against design categories rating the 'whole home' home as a complete package.

The design categories included in the Code are:

The Code uses a rating system, indicated by 'stars'. A new home can achieve a sustainability rating from one to six stars depending on the extent to which it has achieved Code standards. One star is the entry level and six stars (zero carbon) is the highest level reflecting exemplar development in sustainability terms.

Minimum standards exist for a number of categories and these must be achieved to gain a one star sustainability rating. Energy efficiency and water efficiency categories have minimum standards that must be achieved at every level of the code. Apart from these minimum requirements the code is completely flexible and associations can choose which and how many standards are implemented to obtain points under the Code. Associations should note that points are awarded for meeting Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design standards.

The code assessment is a two stage process. Code assessors will conduct initial design stage assessments leading to an interim Code certificate. Before a final code certificate can be issued a post completion check must be carried out by the code assessor in order to ensure that what was designed was actually built. A Code assessment must be carried out by a licensed and registered Code assessor.

From 2 June 2008, all new ‘new build’ self-contained schemes must meet the Code for Sustainable Homes rating level ‘3 stars’ or better. The Association must provide documentary justification where a ‘new build’ self contained scheme is not designed to meet the Code Level 3.

From 1 April 2007, new build shared schemes must meet EcoHomes 2006, or an approved equivalent, at a rating level of ‘Very Good’ or better.

Major Rehabilitation or Re-Improvement schemes must meet EcoHomes 2006, or an approved equivalent, at a rating level of ‘Good’ or better.

DSD intends to ensure that all new social dwellings constructed after 2016 are constructed to the Code for Sustainable Homes rating level 6 star ‘zero carbon’ (this date may be subject to change).

Guidance on the Code for Sustainable Homes is available for Housing Associations and designers on:

Guidance on the latest update on EcoHomes - EcoHomes (2006) - is available for Housing Associations and designers on:

All assessments have to be carried out by a qualified assessor under licence from the Building Research Establishment (BRE). BRE carries out assessor training and quality assurance for assessments. Any organisation can train its staff, through BRE, to become an EcoHomes assessor.  

2.70  Standard Assessment Procedure 2005 (SAP 2005) is the Government’s published method for assessing the energy performance of dwellings. The indicators of the energy performance are energy consumption per unit floor area, an energy cost rating (the SAP rating), an Environmental Impact rating (based on CO₂ emissions) and a Dwelling CO₂ Emission Rate (DER). SAP ratings are included in the NI Building Regulations Part F: Conservation of Fuel and Power and must be carried out for all new dwellings.   The SAP methodology is compliant with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Further Information and detail of services to be provided on Energy Services

2.71 Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).  The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires Member States (MS) to introduce measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and raise energy awareness amongst the public.  Article 7 of the EPBD requires MS to require the issue of an Energy Performance Certificate when buildings are constructed, sold or rented. Housing Associations should note that EPCs will be required for all new build, Rehabilitation and Re-Improvement schemes, Existing Satisfactory Purchases (ESP) and buildings acquired through the Disposals Proceeds Fund (DPF) from the relevant implementation dates.  To comply with Article 10 of the EPBD requires the EPC to be provided by an appropriately qualified/accredited energy assessor.

In some instances, such as ‘Off the Shelf’ (OTS) and ESP’s, the Energy Performance Certificate should normally be provided to the Association by the Vendor or Developer/Contractor.  EPCs will also be required from the appropriate implementation dates to cover circumstances such as property disposals/ the House Sales Scheme and rented properties.  For further information refer to Maintenance Guide.

For more information on Explanatory Notes for use with Supplementary Multipliers