In May 2010 the Directive from December 2002 has been revised by the European Commission and defines general requirements on the energy performance of building in the European Union:

It promotes minimum requirements to the energy performance within the European Union, which will be revised later than every 5 years. All elements of the building are concerned (f. ex. heating, lighting, cooling, ventilation, hot water, etc.).
All new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities should be nearly zero-energy by 2019, with all other buildings by 2021.
As of 2013 and every 3 years thereafter the Commission shall publish a report on the progress of Member States in increasing the number of nearly zero-energy buildings.

For more information please visit the Website of the European Commission.

Code for Sustainable Homes for the UK construction industry

By 2050 a reduction of 80% in carbon dioxide emissions shall be achieved compared to 1990. The strategy for the UK construction industry to achieve a sustainable environment and meet the new climate change objectives was set out within the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) :
By 2016 all new homes shall be net zero carbon compared to 2006 standards.
The code for sustainable homes is the guide to achieve this new commitment.

A step change in sustainable building practice The transition to zero carbon emissions is being implemented in 3 steps

• 2010: 25% improvement in energy/carbon performance
• 2013: 44% improvement
• 2016: zero carbon emissions for housing (2018 for non-domestic)

The Code for Sustainable Homes is closely linked to Building Regulations (Approved Document L) and takes into account 9 design categories, rating the whole home as a complete package. The Code uses a star rating system from 1 to 6 to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home according to a percentage improvement in CO2 emissions:

• x = Code Level 1, 10% reduction
• xx = Code Level 2, 18% reduction
• xxx = Code Level 3, 25% reduction
• xxxx = Code Level 4, 44% reduction
• xxxxx = Code Level 5, 100% reduction
• xxxxxx  = Code Level 6, zero carbon

Part L 2010The changes to the 2010 update to Part L are intended to ensure that Code 3 which represents a 25% reduction in carbon emissions is not just designed for but is actually achieved. The 2010 update includes new energy efficiency standards for non-domestic buildings, with a requirement to achieve a 25% reduction, as for domestic buildings. In both cases compliance will continue to be demonstrated by the use of updates SAP or SBEM software.

As expected Part L continues to aim for high energy performance standards for the building fabric (wall, roofs, windows etc.) as well as its fixed building services (heating, lighting etc.) In addition to improvements in thermal insulation levels more control over thermal bridging and airtightness at junction details will need to be established.