Carbon counting & regulation -buildings related legislation

Westminster Carbon Counting Conference

Ted KingSustainable Buildings Division

Communities and Local Government

24 January 2008

Aims of this presentation

Identify the relevant legislation

Identify key stages in the carbon counting process

Show how key stages are handled in the various regulations

Show how regulations impact on carbon reduction

Regulatory mechanisms

Building regulations

Related initiative - Code for sustainable homes

Stamp duty land tax exemption regulations

Energy Performance Certificates

On construction sale or rent

For display in public buildings

Consultation on obliging private institutions to display.

Key stages in carbon counting in buildings related regulations

Defining the system boundary

Which energy flows should be included?

Determining the magnitude of the energy flows

Converting energy to CO2 emissions

Setting minimum standards.

The system boundary

Legislation relates to “buildings”

“Building” is in scope if it:

is a roofed construction having walls

uses energy to condition the indoor climate

is not in list of exempt classes

(varies for different regulatory applications)

“Building” may refer to the building as a whole or parts thereof that

have been designed or altered to be used separately

Energy flows: Building Regulations

Fabric losses and gains Does not use energy per se (embodied

energy not considered) but impacts on energy demands for HVAC

Fixed building services Lighting (excluding emergency & process) Heating and hot water Air conditioning and Mechanical ventilation

Some services not (yet) included e.g. Vertical transportation

“Plug loads” (currently) outside regulatory scope .. but impact on heating / cooling demands

Comparator of performance – target setter. Notional building of same size, shape, usage

& servicing

Energy Flows: EPCs

Available on construction, sale or rent Inform potential purchaser/tenant

about intrinsic energy efficiency Separate out user effects, so base on

standard occupancy / weather Only variables are envelope and

HVAC

Rating based on same concepts as Part L compliance The Asset Rating

Comparator of performance Building of same size, shape, usage

but fixed level of servicing Compares naturally ventilated and air

conditioned bldgs of the same type (e.g. offices) on the same scale.

Example interpretations

Retail

Residential

Office

Office

Office

1 EPC for each separate dwelling

1 EPC covering all the office areas, even if

actually let floor by floor – unless floor by floor

servicing1 per unit if independent shells opening onto street OR 1 for whole retail area

if shop units share services with mall

Energy flows: DECs

Rates operating performance

Reflects use of building

Measures all energy demands (including e.g. “plug loads” and lifts)

Adjustments for weather, hours/day

The Operational Rating

Comparator of performance CO2 emissions that are typical for all

buildings of the generic type

Special case for DECs & campuses

Campuses such as hospitals, universities and schools often meter mainly at site level

Derive DECs for each building on site by disaggregating energy by area weighting.

Unless a building on site has metering of all fuels & an appropriate benchmark

In these cases a specific building DEC can be prepared’ and

The site data adjusted to produce DECs for remaining buildings.

Determining energy demands (1)

Building Regs & EPCs Assess asset based on standard

usage Assessment must be based on

calculation Delivers the Asset Rating

Calculation tools – the NCM Dwellings

SAP and RdSAP Non dwellings

SBEM Approved dynamic

simulation models

Assessments made by:- Anyone for BRs; but …

persons accredited by approved Accreditation Bodies for EPCs and DECs.

Output screen from SBEM

Bldg Regs check

Determining energy demands (2)

Display energy certificates Required for “public buildings” Voluntary for other sectors

Assessment based on actual usage “Building” must be occupied

Could be part of larger physical building Delivers the Operational Rating

Energy demands must be based on meter readings Includes all end uses (inc. “plug loads”) Landlord’s energy statement for tenant apportionment Can be adjusted for:

• “Special” uses to facilitate comparison (if sub-metered)

• Intervals between readings• Weather.

Choice of CO2 emission factors

Based on upstream and downstream emissions for each fuel

CO2 impact only – not (yet) GWP of other greenhouse gases.

Part L and EPCs To reflect likely emissions over future life of building Electricity based on 5 year forward projection

“Frozen” for life of AD (at minimum) On site energy generation credited at marginal intensity (under

review for 2010)

DECs To reflect actual emissions in past year Electricity taken as last year’s grid average figure On site generation taken on same basis.

Current emission factors

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Stimulating improvement through carbon counting

New buildings

Part L regulatory standard

Compulsory for all new buildings

Code for Sustainable Homes

Level 3 compulsory for all publicly funded developments

Optional for all others

Stamp duty land tax exemption

Incentive for highest standard

Part L standard(Contraction and convergence)

Targets for dwellings 2002-2016

-20

-10

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10

20

30

40

50

2002 2006 2010 FTP CSH lev 4 CSH lev 6CO

2 st

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(kg

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Gas Electricity

Stimulating improvement in existing buildings

Part L sets elemental standards for work in existing buildings

Carbon not counted at building level Impact assessed at aggregated national level

RIAs show significant aggregate carbon reduction as progressively more work is captured

Replacement windows

Replacement boilers

Renovating thermal elements

Changes of use/energy status

Consequential improvements

Source www.bsria.co.uk/press/?press=314

Stimulating improvement throughEPCs & DECs

Requirement to: Assess performance, i.e. to count the carbon Compare with benchmarks Produce recommendations for improvement Make information available – the national register

No requirement to make improvement

Approach relies on: Market forces Peer and public pressure

But what of EPBD 2 ?

www.communities.gov.uk/epbd

www.communities.gov.uk/thecode