Glossary

BRE

The Building Research Establishment, which provides “expert advice on achieving better buildings, communities and businesses”, and ensures “… that products and services protect people, property and the planet”. The BRE is a Code Service Provider.

BREEAM

BRE Environmental Assessment Method is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. The Code for Sustainable Homes is not part of BREEAM, but is owned instead by the Government department of Communities & Local Government (CLG).

Code Level

The Code for Sustainable Homes rating of a dwelling as displayed on its Code certificate, ranging from Level 1 to Level 6 (highest)

Code Service Provider

Organisations that train and accredit Code assessors to carry out assessments on homes against the Code for Sustainable Homes

Considerate Constructors

Scheme which monitors construction sites and rates them according to eight criteria, including consideration to neighbours, cleanliness and safety

EcoHomes

EcoHomes is the forerunner of the Code and is a member of the BREEAM family of assessment methods. It is still useful for assessment of major refurbishments as the Code can only be used on new dwellings.

Ecological survey and report

A qualified ecologist’s assessment of the site in terms of its value to wild plants and animals before, during and after development, containing recommendations

Embodied energy

The embodied energy in a product is the energy that has been used in making the product, plus that used in its installation, plus the energy which will be used in its disposal. It is the consequence of using that product in terms of energy. It includes mining and transportation, and also indirect energy, which is its rightful share of the energy used to make the production equipment used to make the product, transportation equipment used to ship it, and so on.

EPC – Energy Performance Certificate

 There is more than one type – this case refers to the certificate required by Building Control before a dwelling can be occupied.

FSC/PEFC

Forest Stewardship Council / Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes – schemes which assure the sustainable sourcing of timber

Global Warming Potential

The GWP of a gas is a measure of how potent that gas is in terms of the Greenhouse Effect. Gases are used to expand (“blow”) some insulants, either in factory or on site. CO2 is defined as having a GWP of 1. One kilogram of a gas with a GWP of 3 has 3 times the Greenhouse Effect as 1kg of CO2. The GWP is not to be confused with the ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential).

Interim (Design-Stage) Certificate

When all the design evidence has been received and analysed, and preferably before construction begins, an Interim Code certificate is normally issued. This certificate gives the expected Code Level, but is not evidence of Code Level achievement.

Issue

An “issue” in Code or EcoHomes is an aspect of the whole construction process which has its own assessment and scoring method. The aspect may be of site selection, of engineering or architectural design, or of construction practice. Examples of issues are Ecological Value of Site, Surface Water Runoff, Daylighting, and Considerate Constructors.

Licensed assessor

An individual licensed by the relevant authority to supply assessment services using a given Assessment Method. Code Service Provider, which include the BRE, license Code assessors, whereas only the BRE licenses EcoHomes and other BREEAM assessors.

LZC

Low and zero carbon technologies are used to generate energy with lower CO2 emissions than could be achieved using conventional boilers burning fossil fuels. Examples are solar panels, heat pumps and wind turbines.

Mandatory Elements

Several Code issues have mandatory elements. Of these, some are requirements which must be met before any Code rating can be given. Others are variable requirements depending on the Code Level sought.

Multi-residential

Multi-residential is a BREEAM environmental assessment method for use on multi-occupancy residential buildings which do not qualify for assessment under Code or EcoHomes.

In addition to the issues covered by EcoHomes and Code, Multi-residential looks at communal services and the management of communal areas such as catering facilities, lounges, health and leisure areas, offices, meeting rooms and laundry facilities. Therefore, where buildings contain communal rooms as well as self-contained dwellings, Multi-residential may be used to provide a whole-building assessment and rating.

Rainwater harvesting

Collection of rainwater from roofs and hard standing, its storage and its use for WC flushing, clothes washing and watering the garden

Rating

A rating is the environmental performance of a dwelling or residential development as measured by the Code or EcoHomes and shown on its certificate; it may be either a Code Level or an EcoHomes description (e.g. “Good” or “Excellent”).

Responsible sourcing

Sourcing with respect to life-cycle stewardship, in which the consequences of using materials is considered from the point of view of their entire life cycle, from mining and harvesting through manufacture and processing, to use, re-use and recycling, and to disposal

Robust Details

Construction details, some of which have a known sound insulation performance; to be valid the site must first registered with Robust Details Ltd

SAP Assessment

From the architectural design and insulation properties of a dwelling, the Standard Assessment Procedure calculates (using software) the typical CO2 emission rate of the dwelling in use. From there, estimates of the main energy costs from running the home are obtained, and the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) produced.

Score Sheet

A document giving scores for each issue and totals for the dwelling or development, the Score Sheet can be used to predict results, identify possible improvements and highlight missing evidence.

Secure By Design

A police initiative to reduce crime by appropriate design of both the site and the building features

Smart meter

An electricity/gas meter which provides full information on fuel consumption and carbon emissions

SUDS

Sustainable drainage system – aimed at effectively disposing of surface water as close to its source as possible

TAN22

A Technical Advice Note from the Welsh Assembly Government entitled “Planning for Sustainable Buildings”, TAN22 advises planners on the use of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Tradable credits

Credits from many issues are tradable, i.e. optional. The value of a credit (in points or percent) depends on the issue. A given combination of credits from different issues will give a certain score, and the mix can be adjusted to achieve the rating required. All EcoHomes issues are tradable. However, in the Code some issues have mandatory elements which affect the Level achieved.

 

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