WALES BUILDING REGULATIONS
(Standard Assessment Procedure, SAP) used to determine whether a dwelling meets Part L or not.
The Welsh Assembly building’s striking interior
There will also be benefits to both he home
It seems that implementation of proposed Building Regulations targets for Wales may not result in the removal of the existing ‘expectations’ for broader environmental sustainability
owner and house builder. Home owners will achieve significant environmental benefits, and weekly fuel bills for the same private sector semi-detached house for heating, lighting and hot water are estimated at £7.50. House builders able and willing to be innovative are likely to prosper under the new regime. The UK government’s introduction of feed-in tariffs has provided an incentive for the provision of renewable energy generation as part of the solution to meeting higher new housing standards. The income stream payable for the life of the technology could help offset some of the additional costs to home owner or builder, and/or help developers distinguish their products within the housing market. Whilst site layout and orientation will determine what is practical, the 55% target has been based on a conservative assumption of photovoltaic provision (eg a 1.25 kWh/ yr peak for a semi-detached house. If a workable way of securing private funding and implementing PV can be found, or a way of even partially transferring initial capital cost to the householder, then costs are likely to reduce still further: this could potentially be achieved through the government’s Green Deal. Compliance with proposed Building
Regulations in Wales is expected to require low and zero carbon technologies, for which financial incentives such as feed-in tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive may be available. The most cost-effective renewable solutions for which the energy infrastructure and the financial and management systems have yet to be fully developed are likely to be site/community-wide. Choices of technologies and their relative cost effectiveness will also be informed by ongoing development of the compliance methodology
42 CIBSE Journal October 2011
Calculation methods Methods for calculating building performance remain an issue. For instance, it is possible to achieve the required Energy Performance Certificate ‘B’ rating (score of 40 or below) without meeting Part L 2010. The issue is one of design, in that buildings must now seek to apply the energy hierarchy (reducing demand through passive measures such as efficient building fabric before consideration is given to renewable generation) more rigidly in order to satisfy the method that will be employed by BREEAM 2011. This method uses SBEM (Part L-approved software) outputs linked to a proposed BREEAM CO2 calculator tool. Given the ongoing issues with calculation methodologies and the inclination to avoid duplication of targets, it seems likely that the implementation of the proposed Part L standards will mean the removal of the expectation for energy performance standards secured through national planning policy. However, serious consideration will be given to whether the planning system should continue to secure the aspects of the environmental sustainability of new buildings not addressed by Building Regulations. In its statement on Building Regulations
last year the Welsh government indicated that it would review the implications of the proposed introduction of Welsh Building Regulations on the national planning policy, which will also include considering whether the policy is still necessary. Over the next year it is proposed to map
out an approach and timing for raising standards of new, non-domestic buildings. This will be informed by an understanding of the range of building types constructed in Wales and their improvement potential. The Welsh government also intends to undertake a further review of Part L in 2014 to consider the next steps towards zero carbon, but an indication will be provided within the consultation on Part L 2013 for Wales, which will take place next year. It will be interesting to see whether the implementation of proposed 2013 Part L targets result in replacement of national planning policy energy and CO2 reduction targets, or expectations for broader environmental sustainability.
l Alison Crompton, simon HArtley and sArAH GeAly work for AECOM; Sarah is also chairman of CIBSE South Wales region.
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