The Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) was introduced in England in April 2007 as a voluntary national standard to improve the overall sustainability of new homes by setting a single framework within which the home building industry can design and construct homes to higher environmental standards. Where it is used the Code also gives new homebuyers information about the environmental impact of their new home and its potential running costs.

The Code measures the sustainability of a home against nine design categories, rating the 'whole home' as a complete package. The design categories are:

• Energy and CO2 Emissions
• Water
• Materials
• Surface Water Run-off
• Waste
• Pollution
• Heath and Wellbeing
• Management
• Ecology

The Code uses a rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a home. A home can achieve a sustainability rating from one to six stars depending on the extent to which it has achieved Code standards. One star is the entry level above the level of the Building Regulations; and six stars is the highest level reflecting exemplar development in sustainability terms.

Assessment procedures are based on BRE Global Limited's EcoHomes System which depends on a network of specifically trained and accredited independent assessors. Currently BRE Global Limited and Stroma Accreditation Limited can offer training and accreditation of Code assessors.

Since May 2008 all new homes will have to have a sustainability certificate in the Home Information Pack. That can be in the form of a Code certificate if the home has been assessed against Code standards or, if it has not been assessed, a 'nil-rated' certificate.

More information about the Code is available in this PDF