The Government's drive towards zero carbon housing took a major step
forward today with the announcement that all new homes are to be rated
on their green credentials from 1 May.

A rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes, which measures nine
categories of sustainable design including energy, water and waste, will
be required for all new homes. Homes which exceed the sustainable
standards in existing Building Regulations will be awarded up to six
stars. Those homes that have not been assessed against the Code will
score a nil-rating.

Speaking at the Eco Build 2008 conference today, Housing Minister
Caroline Flint said:

"We need to tackle climate change by improving how green and energy
efficient our homes are. New build housing will play an important part
in this, and we are already committed to all new housing being zero
carbon from 2016. These measures are essential in tackling climate
change.

"By requiring a rating for all new homes against the Code for
Sustainable Homes in the run up to 2016, we are making the standards
that different homes reach more transparent and are creating an
important incentive for house builders to provide greener, more
sustainable homes.

"Providing these ratings will also give buyers valuable information
about their home, allowing them to make an informed choice and helping
people to reduce their own household carbon emissions."

Welcoming today's announcement Paul King of the UK Green Building
Council said:

"The Code for Sustainable Homes will fundamentally change the way we
build and buy new homes in this country. Buyers of new homes, for the
first time, will see how green their home is - not just on its carbon
emissions, but on other vital issues such as water consumption and
impact on biodiversity. This will help stimulate the market for green
building as consumers demand more sustainable homes that have lower
energy bills, are built producing less needless waste and that are great
places to live.

"For industry, the Code plays a crucial role setting the trajectory
towards the target of all new homes emitting zero carbon from 2016. This
goal has brought about a fundamental change in mindset, galvanising the
construction sector and is already producing really innovative design.
We still have challenges to overcome to bring sustainable homes
genuinely into the mainstream, not least in the existing stock, but this
represents a vitally important step and one for which Government should
be congratulated."

Ashley Jones of Bramall Construction who have built homes to Code level
4 said:

"Bramall Construction is committed to building sustainable housing and
is proud to have built the first saleable homes to the Sustainable Code
Level 4 standard. We have a number of additional projects in the
pipeline that will also be built to the Code. We fully support the work
that Communities and Local Government are doing and hope to continue
working with them."
http://www.voltimum.co.uk/news/9474/infopro.profnews.voltimum/Eco-friendly-ratings-for-all-new-homes.html
http://www.communities.gov.uk/