What is the fabric energy efficiency standard?

The standard sets a maximum space heating and cooling demand for each square metre of floor area per year. The standard is met through insulation, air tightness, good glazing and limited thermal bridging.

Why is a fabric-first approach favoured for new homes?

The building fabric lasts the life of the home and needs no fuel or maintenance to keep working. Boilers, panels and other technologies wear out and may be removed.

What is carbon compliance in the zero carbon hierarchy?

Carbon compliance is a limit on carbon dioxide emissions that must be met on or near the site. Efficient heating and on-site renewables, such as solar panels and heat pumps, are used to meet it.

What are allowable solutions?

Allowable solutions are measures taken away from the site to deal with emissions a home cannot cut on its own. Examples include funding community renewable schemes or retrofitting nearby buildings.

CCEA A-Level Environmental Technology 3930

Fossil Fuels

Topic overview Coal, oil and gas in modern society Reserves, lifespan and accessibility Fossil fuel combustion and the IPCC evidence Carbon trading schemes Fossil fuel demand, emerging economies and fuel security Environmental impacts of fossil fuel use

Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

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Macrogeneration

Topic overview Conservation of energy and the simple generator Thermal power stations and steam turbines Direct and indirect renewable electricity Electricity transmission through the National Grid Smart grids and interconnectors Combined heat and power

Microgeneration

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Energy From Wind

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Topic overview Defining biomass and its main categories Energy crops grown for biomass Advantages and disadvantages of biomass fuel Combustion, woodchip and fuel quality Gasification and syngas Biogas and commercial anaerobic digesters

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Waste Management

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Waste to Energy Technologies

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Hydrogen Fuel Cells

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Transport System Challenges

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Energy Performance of Buildings

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Emerging Technologies

Topic overview Tidal stream and tidal barrage power Wave energy converters Environmental impacts of wave and tidal energy Smart materials and smart systems Carbon capture and storage Geo-engineering, direct air capture and bio-photovoltaics

Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities

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The Code for Sustainable Homes

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Energy Performance of Buildings

The zero carbon homes hierarchy

3 things to know
A2 1

Overview

Fabric energy efficiency, carbon compliance and allowable solutions, fabric first, orientation and shape, sizing heating after the fabric, gas boilers, the abandoned 2016 target, barriers to zero carbon homes and Passivhaus.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What are the levels of the zero carbon homes hierarchy, and why is fabric efficiency its base?

Key term

What is the zero carbon homes hierarchy?

Key term

Why is the hierarchy shown as a pyramid with fabric efficiency at the base?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the zero carbon homes hierarchy?
Model answer
The hierarchy is a three-step approach to making a new home zero carbon. The steps, from the base up, are fabric energy efficiency, carbon compliance and allowable solutions.
2
Why is the hierarchy shown as a pyramid with fabric efficiency at the base?
Model answer
Fabric efficiency is the foundation, because a home that needs little energy is easier to supply with low-carbon energy. The upper levels deal only with the emissions that remain.
3
What is the fabric energy efficiency standard?
Model answer
The standard sets a maximum space heating and cooling demand for each square metre of floor area per year. The standard is met through insulation, air tightness, good glazing and limited thermal bridging.
4
Why is a fabric-first approach favoured for new homes?
Model answer
The building fabric lasts the life of the home and needs no fuel or maintenance to keep working. Boilers, panels and other technologies wear out and may be removed.
5
What is carbon compliance in the zero carbon hierarchy?
Model answer
Carbon compliance is a limit on carbon dioxide emissions that must be met on or near the site. Efficient heating and on-site renewables, such as solar panels and heat pumps, are used to meet it.
6
What are allowable solutions?
Model answer
Allowable solutions are measures taken away from the site to deal with emissions a home cannot cut on its own. Examples include funding community renewable schemes or retrofitting nearby buildings.

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Fossil Fuels

Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

Macrogeneration

Microgeneration

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