The Code for Sustainable Homes

What The Code for Sustainable Homes covers

The Code for Sustainable Homes is assessed in Unit A2 2, Environmental Building Performance and Measurement, which is internally assessed and externally moderated; understanding of the Code is also examined in the Unit A2 1 written paper. It covers purpose, levels and assessment of the Code, energy, carbon dioxide and water categories, materials, surface water run-off and waste categories, pollution, health and wellbeing, management and ecology categories, measuring the performance of an existing building and performance profiles, improvements and evaluation.

The 6 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Purpose, levels and assessment of the CodeThe Code's Levels 1 to 6, mandatory and tradable standards, its nine categories, assessors and design-stage and post-construction assessments, its withdrawal in 2015, Energy Performance Certificates and BREEAM.Open →
• Energy, carbon dioxide and water categoriesThe dwelling emission rate, heat loss, U-values and a wall heat loss calculation, low and zero carbon technologies, drying space and external lighting, water use targets, reducing and measuring water use, and a shower flow calculation.Open →
• Materials, surface water run-off and waste categoriesThe Green Guide to Specification, responsible sourcing and embodied energy, reducing surface water run-off and flood plains, recycling storage, site waste management plans, construction waste and measuring waste provision.Open →
• Pollution, health and wellbeing, management and ecology categoriesGlobal warming potential and low-NOx boilers, daylighting and a daylight factor calculation, sound insulation, Lifetime Homes, home user guides, and ecological value and building footprint.Open →
• Measuring the performance of an existing buildingGathering data, thermal imaging and when to do it, air-tightness tests, measuring energy use and heating systems, checking insulation with a borescope, risk assessment and loft safety, occupant questionnaires and presenting data.Open →
• Performance profiles, improvements and evaluationBuilding performance profiles, accumulating Code credits, prioritising improvements to energy, water and ecology, payback with a loft insulation calculation, evaluating measurement methods and the performance gap.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take The Code for Sustainable Homes further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Design-stage assessment vs Post-construction review

  Design-stage assessment: an interim rating given from plans and specifications before building. Post-construction review: a confirming check carried out once the home has been finished.

• Mandatory standard vs Tradable credit

  Mandatory standard: a minimum requirement that must be met to reach a given level. Tradable credit: an optional point a designer may choose to earn in any category.

• Energy Performance Certificate vs BREEAM

  Energy Performance Certificate: an A to G rating of how efficiently a building uses fuel and power. BREEAM: a voluntary rating of a building's wider sustainability, graded from Pass to Outstanding.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What was the Code for Sustainable Homes?

   Model answer

   The Code for Sustainable Homes was a national standard for rating the sustainability of new homes. The Code was launched in December 2006, came into use in April 2007 and was also applied in Wales and Northern Ireland.

2. 2

   How did the Code for Sustainable Homes rate a home?

   Model answer

   The Code awarded credits across nine categories and converted them into a rating from Level 1 to Level 6. Level 6 was the highest standard, a zero carbon home.

3. 3

   What was required for Code Level 6?

   Model answer

   Code Level 6 required a zero carbon home, with no net carbon dioxide emissions from all energy use. The home also needed very high standards in the other categories.

4. 4

   What were mandatory standards in the Code for Sustainable Homes?

   Model answer

   Mandatory standards were minimum requirements a home had to meet to achieve a given level. Energy and water use carried mandatory minimums at every level.

5. 5

   Why were some Code standards mandatory while others were tradable?

   Model answer

   Mandatory standards guaranteed a minimum performance in the most important areas. Tradable credits let designers choose how to earn the remaining points.

6. 6

   What are the nine categories of the Code for Sustainable Homes?

   Model answer

   The first five categories are energy and carbon dioxide emissions, water, materials, surface water run-off and waste. The other four are pollution, health and wellbeing, management and ecology.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

The Code for Sustainable Homes revision questions

What does The Code for Sustainable Homes cover in CCEA A-Level Environmental Technology?

6 subtopics: purpose, levels and assessment of the code, energy, carbon dioxide and water categories, materials, surface water run-off and waste categories, pollution, health and wellbeing, management and ecology categories, measuring the performance of an existing building and performance profiles, improvements and evaluation. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is The Code for Sustainable Homes organised?

By the CCEA 3930 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.