10th March 2006

The Micropower Council today gave a cautious welcome to the government’s announcement that microgeneration will receive additional points in the Code for Sustainable Homes. Other welcome features of ODPM’s announcement are the mandatory energy ratings for all new and existing homes, the raising of the minimum level above the mandatory requirements of Building Regulations and the statement that the code will form the basis for the next wave of improvements to the Building Regulations.

Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of the Micropower Council said:

“Although there is much yet to be revealed in the detail, we cautiously welcome this announcement. In particular, we welcome the recognition that the Code should be used to promote microgeneration, and that the door is now open to microgeneration eventually becoming a requirement of the Building Regulations. We look forward to working closely with the government to help develop the detailed criteria”

NOTES:

On 9 March 2006 the government announced its intentions on the Code for Sustainable Homes alongside the publication of draft Part L to the Building Regulations, due to come into effect on 6 April. More details at: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Full details will become available in the coming weeks and months, but the main features relevant to the micropower industry are as follows:

1. Energy ratings will be made mandatory for new and existing homes.
2. Minimum standards of energy and water efficiency will apply to every level of the code, rather than allowing builders to trade different components between levels.
3. The lowest levels of the Code will be raised above the mandatory requirements of the Building Regulations.
4. Extra points will be awarded to homes that include some form of microgeneration. (Although the ODPM press release states suggests this only applies to microrenewables, we have written confirmation that it will apply to all forms of microgeneration defined under section 2 of The Energy Act 2004).
5. The code will form the basis for the next wave of improvements to the Building Regulations.
6. As an interim measure all homes with English Partnerships or Housing Corporation funding will meet the new EcoHomes “Very Good 2006” standard from 1 April, which is broadly equivalent to the code level three.