A home meeting any level of the Code will have to meet minimum standards for certain items depending on what level is desired. For Level 3 this means: The home will have to be 25% more energy efficient than one built to the 2006 Building Regulations standards. This could be achieved by:

• Improving the thermal efficiency of the walls, windows, and roof as far as is practically possible (by using more insulation or better glass for example);

• Reducing air permeability to the minimum consistent with health requirements (a certain amount of air ventilation is needed in a home for health reasons);

• Installing a high efficiency condensing boiler;

• Carefully designing the fabric of the home to reduce thermal bridging (thermal bridging allows heat to easily escape between the inner walls and the outer walls of a home);

• Possibly using district heating systems or low and zero carbon technologies such as solar thermal panels or biomass boilers to help heat the hot water. The home will have to be designed to use no more than about 105 litres of water per person per day. This could be achieved by fitting a number of items such as:
    • 6/4 Dual Flush WC;
    • 6-9 litres per minute shower (note that an average electric shower is about 6/7 litres per minute);
    • 18ltr maximum volume dishwasher;
    • 60ltr maximum volume washing machine.
    • Flow Reducing/Aerating taps throughout;
    • A smaller, shaped bath – still long enough to lie down in, but less water required to fill it to a level consistent withpersonal comfort;

• Surface water management – this may mean the provision of soakaways and areas of porous paving;

• Materials – this means a minimum number of materials meeting at least a ‘D’ grade in the Building Research Establishment’s Green Guide (the scale goes from A+ to E);

• Waste management – this means having a site waste management plan in place during the home’s construction, and adequate space for waste storage during its use.

But to get to Level 3 you need a further 46.7 points. So the builder/developer must do other things to obtain the other points such as:
    • Providing drying space (so that tumble dryers need not be used);
    • Providing more energy efficient lighting (both internally and externally);
    • Providing cycle storage;
    • Providing a room that can be easily set up as a home office;
    • Reducing the amount of water than runs off the site into the storm drains;
    • Using much more environmentally friendly materials;
    • Providing recycling capacity either inside or outside the home;
    • Enhancing the security of the home;
    • Enhancing the sound insulation used in the home.

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