This snapshot taken on 24/10/2008, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
A selection of images representing communities.
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On the 27 February 2008 the Government confirmed a mandatory rating against the Code will be implemented from 1 May 2008.
The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against nine categories of sustainable design, rating the 'whole home' as a complete package. The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home. The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
The Code will provide valuable information to home buyers, and offer builders a tool with which to differentiate themselves in sustainability terms.
The Department has published a Greener Homes for the Future Leaflet which highlights what the Code is, how it works and what it means to have a mandatory rating for new homes.
Guidance on how to comply with the Code can be found in these publications.
The October 2008 Technical Guide was published on 8 October 2008. The guide comes into effect on the 3 November 2008, therefore the October 2008 guide will apply to homes registered on or after this date. The April 2008 version and addendum (which is available in the archived section) will only apply to homes registered before this date.
In November 2007 we published an Impact Assessment which was part of the Housing and Regeneration Bill Impact Assessment paper , that analysed the costs and benefits of introducing mandatory ratings against the Code which included updated modelling data on the costs of building Code homes. Further details of the cost modelling undertaken can be found in the report Cost Analysis of The Code for Sustainable Homes: Final report .
On 13 December 2006, the Code for Sustainable Homes - a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes was launched. Since April 2007 the developer of any new home in England could choose to be assessed against the Code.
On 16 November 2007 the Government confirmed that it would be proceeding with the implementation of mandatory ratings against the Code for all new homes following responses to the consultation on making a rating mandatory.
