Code for Sustainable Homes Makes an Impact
The UK government has taken a leading role in the fight against carbon emissions and global warming. Its strategy is partly reflected in the Code for Sustainable Homes. Among other issues discussed in the Code, it touches upon domestic water heating which will have important ramifications on the British heating industry both for new build homes and in re-development projects.
Part L1A of the building regulations is currently in force. In effect it already defines a set of targets for each property's carbon dioxide emission. The property developers have to prove in advance that once it is fully built, the property will emit less than or equal to the carbon emission target.
Part L1A was introduced in 2005 setting a target of 20% reduction in CO2 emissions for new property developments. The new Code for Sustainable Homes sets six levels of emissions reduction starting at 10% for level one, up to 'Zero Carbon' for level six. By 2016 all new dwellings have to meet the government target of 100% reduction in carbon emissions, which corresponds to level five of the Code.
The scoring for the dwellings is done according to a points system, in which every component of the home is scored based on its energy efficiency and carbon emissions. A score of 57 points is required for level three, while level six requires a score of 90 points.
It is fair to say that water heating systems currently available in the UK can meet the standard for medium levels within the Code. Still there is work to be done to make the heating systems efficient enough to meet the requirements for the top most levels, such as levels five and six.
In order to reach the new targets, some developers are voting for renewable energy technologies. For example a solar water heating system generates hot water with almost no carbon emissions. The system can be further enhanced by a high efficiency boiler or a hot water cylinder with an immersion heater to provide a reliable backup for the winters (with short and cold days).
Experts argue that the Code should be applied not only to new buildings but also to retrofit projects. Installing an energy efficient boiler or a hot water tank would benefit not only the environment, but also the home owners through reduced heating bills. A high efficiency boiler (such as an A rated condensing boiler) converts more than 90% of the input energy into usable energy, improving on previous boilers by around 30%. Similarly, a well insulated hot water cylinder will reduce heat loss during the night to near zero levels, compared with poorly insulated old cylinders.
To ensure a successful launch, it is important to verify that the UK heating industry is well prepared for the implication of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Furthermore it is expected that the Code will have a direct impact on the building regulations to be introduced in 2010 further affecting the industry.
In general, the UK industry is well positioned to benefit from technological developments and the introduction of renewable energy systems. Local manufacturers and engineers are at the cutting edge of technology and will ensure successful uptake and introduction of such technologies to the public.
