Building Regulations 2013 - consultation on energy efficiency in new and existing dwellings
Posted by Richard Lupo on Wed, Feb 15, 2012
The Government proposals for the 2013 Building Regulations are now available from the Department of Communities and Local Government website.
We like to keep our community informed of important updates. These are significant. They have implications for how we measure the energy efficiency of new build homes. They also have implications for organisations making improvements to existing homes.
Introduction
The proposed Part L changes make for an interesting read because, amongst other things, they are the stepping stones between the current regulations and the 2016 regulations. By 2016 the Government have committed to introduce zero regulated carbon emissions from new homes. New methods of introducing carbon efficiency into existing buildings have also been proposed which ought to link in with the Green Deal programme.
There are many other changes described in the proposals ranging from electrical safety to a revision of the building control system. However, this briefing paper focuses on the proposed intermediate steps for the 2013 regulations as well as the proposals for improving the energy efficiency of new homes.
Background
To understand the proposals in context it is perhaps informative to describe where the regulations are now and then explain where the government intends to be in 2016.
The current situation is that energy efficiency compliance for new dwellings is demonstrated 
using the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). SAP uses the dimensions, fabric and heating systems information to model the predicted carbon dioxide emissions of a home. The predicted emissions are then compared to a target emissions rate. Provided the target is met then the home is considered compliant.
Currently the target is calculated for each new home and is dependent on the dimensions of the home, national fabric information and, importantly, a fuel factor which in turn is dependent on whether gas or electricity is used to heat the home. This means that the target is not permanently fixed and actually varies for every new type of home. Furthermore, it is up to the designer how the carbon emissions are reached, by whatever combination of technologies or design they chose. The key thing is, that the carbon emissions meet the (moving) target.
By 2016 the intention is to have zero regulated emissions for all new build homes. The first thing to note is the word “regulated”. This will mean that carbon emissions, as predicted by SAP, must be zero. However, SAP only looks at space and water heating, lighting, pumps, fans and cooling. It does not take into account things like fridge freezers, cookers and other appliances.
Crucially, the intention is to introduce new minimum standards for the fabric which has never been directed before. Also a specific carbon emissions target that does not change with fuel type and the concept of “allowable solutions” are anticipated for 2016.
This note will not deal with allowable solutions but briefly this is a means by which housebuilders can achieve a “zero carbon” home by paying for the equivalent carbon savings in other projects e.g. further improvements on the home under construction or reducing the same number of carbon emissions in existing homes.
In short, by 2016 housebuilders will have to reach a fabric energy efficiency target, maximum carbon emissions target and then perform activities to reduce the remaining carbon emissions.
I hope that has been of use. Our next blog will focus on the proposals for the 2013 building regulations. It should be up in the next week.
We provide training on retrofitting existing homes to low carbon levels, Passivhaus, the Code for Sustainable Homes and other areas. See a list of potential courses here.
Continue to Part 2 of this article.
