The Code for Sustainable Homes - water requirements

The Code for Sustainable Homes is a government initiative that was launched in 2006. Since May 2008, all new homes in England must be assessed against the Code. The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against 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.

As is unfortunately often the case with new government initiatives, there are serious limitations with the way in which the water requirements of the Code operate. There are many examples of how compliance with the Code actually makes a building less water efficient rather than more, or decreases its overall sustainability. We can help you decipher the water calculator that the Code uses and find the best solution for making your building genuninely more water efficient, without compromising Code ratings.