Legal
Down to zero
In the fi rst of a regular column on regulatory matters,
Hywel Davies looks at the questions surrounding the
current drive for carbon-neutral buildings
T
he UK government is committed to the target of will start in early April this year, and that the fi nal version
zero-carbon new homes by 2016, and is currently of the new Part L will appear later this year, to come into
working towards a goal of zero-carbon non- force next year – possibly as early as April 2010. But,
domestic buildings by 2019. The main mechanism needless to say, these timetables can be subject to alteration
for delivering this commitment is the Building Regulations or delay during the process of consultation, review and
– although the planning system, in particular the London parliamentary scrutiny.
Plan, is also being used to drive a low-carbon agenda for However, the aim of meeting the
new buildings. 2016 target for homes, or 2019 for
This goal is part of of a wider web of regulations other buildings, requires some fairly
governing emissions and energy use in the commercial signifi cant steps to be taken. The initial
sector, in particular the building stock. This includes the steps will be set out in the forthcoming
European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive revisions to Part L.
and its associated regulations, the Energy Using Products The government has accepted the
Directive, aspects of the Energy Services Directive and the industry view that there needs to be a clear
Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). programme for changes to the Building
The original idea behind a zero-carbon home was that it Regulations, so that all those affected can
should generate suffi cient power for the appliances within plan for the longer term. Manufacturers
it. This is currently Code Level 6, according to the Code for need to plan to invest over realistic product
Sustainable Homes. In effect, every home would become a cycles, while contractors and consultants
power station. This idea has prompted some considerable will want to look ahead at the skills needs
debate about what exactly a zero carbon home, or building, that future changes to the Regulations
should be. will demand. Further revisions to Part L
Questions arise such as, should power for appliances are expected in 2013, 2016 and 2019 –
be included? Should the building have to generate its making four key stages on the path to zero
own electricity for them, from within its own site? Could carbon.
it come from a localised generation facility within a However, while 2016 may seem a long way off, the 2010
development, such as a combined heat and power scheme; target could mean a 25 per cent cut in carbon emissions for
or be generated by a turbine at the top of the nearby hill, new builds, compared with 2006 levels. Details still have
and delivered to the development by private wire? to be worked out, though, on how the 25 per cent target
These questions all point to different servicing strategies is to be set, what the notional building will look like, and
for the homes of the future. These strategies could include whether all buildings will have to meet the same target, or
homes full of renewables, such as photovoltaics, solar whether it will be an average across the stock. These details
thermal, micro-CHP (combined heat and power) or heat will all be the subject of the Part L consultation, expected
pumps. There’s also the alternative prospect of a low- to start in early April.
carbon development with localised energy generation. Once again, CIBSE will be looking at these proposals
If you wish to be involved in
the zero-carbon consultation,
But what exactly is meant by ‘zero carbon’? That very carefully, and asking members to contribute to the
details can be found at
definition is currently the subject of a consultation by preparation of our response to government. As well as
www.cibse.org – go to
government that closes on 18 March. This consultation using the website for this, CIBSE’s technical department the ‘consultation’ link on
leads into the next round of amendments to Part L of will also be organising a series of events to hear what our
the ‘knowledge bank’.
the Building Regulations, along with the guidance in the members think of the proposals, and how they see them
Alternatively, contact
Alexander Burford at
Approved Doccuumentss and the various Compliance Guides working out in practice. ●
CIBSE on 020 8772 3631 or
and other supporting guidance documents.
aburford@cibse.org. We need
Hywel Davies is technical director of CIBSE
Current expectations are that the consultation on Part L your comments by 6 March.
28 CIBSE Journal February 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEfeb09pp28 legal• REV.indd 28 13/2/09 12:01:40
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