Throughout our business we are looking to reduce our environmental and social impacts by using the Building Research Establishment's EcoHomes rating scheme, in advance of the Government's Code for Sustainable Homes.
EcoHomes is an authoritative rating for new homes. It sets out a series of best practice criteria, against which the environmental aspects of building design and operation can be assessed. Schemes are rated on the basis of Pass, through to Good, Very Good and Excellent. One to four sunflowers depict these.
Our performance
All our new homes are assessed against EcoHomes and the BRE's Green Guide. In 2006, some 55% of our developments achieved at least a Good or better EcoHomes rating.
EcoHomes considers the broad environmental concerns of climate change, resource use and impact on wildlife, and balances these against the need for a high quality of life, and a safe and healthy internal environment. The issues assessed are grouped into seven categories: Energy; Transport; Water; Ecology and land use; Pollution; Health and well being; Materials.
Energy and water efficiency
The biggest source of carbon emissions for most people is likely to be the energy you use in your home, of which the biggest use is for heating. We therefore use energy efficient appliances and water saving devices and typically the gas condensing boilers we install in our new houses are 10/15% more energy efficient than traditional gas boilers.
Benefits
EcoHomes offers our new home customers the benefits of reduced costs through superior energy and water efficiency, and reduced maintenance, as well as comfortable, healthy, and flexible internal living space. It therefore helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions which in turn safeguards the environment.
For further information on sustainability visit the sustainability section of our corporate website.