The Code for Sustainable Homes is a national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new build housing. Its aim is for every new home to be zero carbon rated by 2016

A Code for Sustainable Homes assessment is now required for the majority of new build housing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is usually required to satisfy funding or Local Authority sustainability policies.

The code introduces minimum standards for energy and water efficiency based on a simple system of awarded credits. Part of this policy introduces the requirement for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016.**

**Source of information: Code for Sustainable Homes 2006 Zero carbon hub 2016 timeline available at www.zerocarbonhub.org

Compliance and carbon efficiency

The Government's 'Carbon Compliance for Tomorrow's New Homes' review identifies key design choices that can be made during the specification process to 'lock in' future energy and carbon performance. The following key issues in particular have driven Polypipe's product development programme:

• The need to integrate new technologies for both space and water heating and provide appropriate piping system solutions
• The need to avoid overheating in new homes, with its implications for carbon emissions, health and consumer choices, whilst ensuring in-door air quality is not compromised
• The need for the energy used in homes to be progressively de-carbonated in the coming years

Carbon Efficient Solutions

"The decision that new homes must be low energy/zero carbon from 2016 is very challenging. These homes will not simply be the homes we build today with extra insulation. A low energy/zero carbon home is a complex combination of systems and products which must perform as specified".*

The move towards low energy, zero carbon homes and buildings calls for the adoption of new building technology at an unprecedented pace and scale. Complex combinations of systems and products, such as heat pumps, heat recovery and geothermal technology, require careful planning if they are to perform as specified.*

Polypipe provides plastic piping systems that enable the effective installation and performance of these sustainable building technologies to meet the global challenge of collection, transmission, control and emission of energy.

*Carbon Compliance for Tomorrow's New Homes - July 2010

Polypipe's focus is on the development of piping systems that enable the carbon efficient collection, transmission, emission and control of thermal energy

Polypipe Carbon Efficient Solutions

With energy performance and zero carbon homes becoming the key focus of UK Government targets, the requirement for piping systems that maximise specified performance has increased. In response, we have focused on the development of systems to help residential developers and installers implement solutions for increased carbon efficiency.

Polypipe provides plastic piping systems that enable the effective installation and performance of these sustainable building technologies to meet the global challenge of collection, transmission, control and emission of energy.