From 15 June 2022, all new homes must produce 30% less carbon dioxide emissions.
These Building Regulations also include new requirements to cut carbon emissions and energy emissions during home improvements.
Why are they changing?
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities say that the changes ‘mark an important step on our journey towards a cleaner, greener built environment and it supports us in our target to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050’.
Changes in Building Regulations
• From 15th June 2022, newbuild homes are required to emit 31% less carbon by welcoming the installation of electric heating systems and by using more renewable energy sources – through solar panels for example.
• There are various rules for newbuild non-residential properties but in general, they too must emit at least 27% less carbon than currently and implement renewable energy systems.
• Measuring a property’s energy efficiency will now be calculated by using a metric for ‘primary energy’: the efficiency of a property’s heating and measuring the energy required to produce fuel for the property.
• In all new domestic builds new minimum efficiency standards must be adhered to. Thermal transmittance (the U-value) is is the rate of transfer of heat through a structure. The new U-value for walls will be 0.18 W/m2, 1.4 for doors and 1.4 for windows and rooflights.
• New and replacement heating systems for domestic properties must have a maximum flow temperature of 55°C.
•All extensions built on existing properties will be subject to SAP compliance.
• The regulations also include glazing limits for newbuild homes to lower solar gain and requirements for levels of cross-ventilation.
• The regulations also require all domestic newbuilds to have the preparatory work completed for future installation of an electric vehicle charging point.
These requirements will apply to all projects after 15 June 2022, except where a building notice has already been given or full plans have already been submitted prior to that date with the local authority. From 15 June 2023, all projects, regardless of submissions, will be subject to these measures.
If you need help navigating these new rules and creating plans for a more energy efficient and compliant loft conversion, extension or newbuild, contact us today.