NIBE have pioneered heat pump design for 4 decades across Europe and are currently European market leader for Air Source, Ground Source and Exhaust Air Heat Pumps. NIBE supply a complete range of heat pumps with a proven track record of efficiency, reliability and flexibility in order to suit any heat pump project requirements. In 2008, the Government launched the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in order to drive the reduction of carbon emissions in new housing.
The strategy was for the social market to pick up the reins of the CSH process and be the pioneers on the roadmap to low carbon emissions. The take up of the CSH process was unprecedented as the private market, at this time, fell on its knees; this left house builders with existing builds but with no one to sell to. In order to sell these properties, they had to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes requirements or risk becoming another casualty of the looming economic crisis. The take up of the CSH process by the private market, was 2 years ahead of schedule and was driven by survival.
In 2010 the Code for Sustainable homes stepped up a gear, where the social market had to meet further reductions in carbon emissions beyond the 2008 threshold and a mandatory level for the private market was imposed.
NIBE have supported Architects, Developers, Installers and many other parties, with projects that help them to achieve the requirements set by the Code for Sustainable Homes since 2008 and are continually working to provide solutions that are fit for purpose in these projects.
There are 9 key categories in the Code for Sustainable Homes, from energy and carbon emissions through to ecology on site; heating and hot water appliances can only influence the energy, carbon emissions and pollution sections of the code and this is where NIBE can deliver new technology solutions to the market.
The CSH process scores points in these 9 categories and these are used to determine what sustainability standard has been met. The sustainability Standards range from level 1, with the lowest level of requirements, through to level 6 which is a carbon neutral dwelling.
Below is a table showing Total Credits Available, Weighting Factors and Points
| Categories of Environmental Impact |
Total Credits in Each Category |
Weighting Factor (% points for contribution) |
Approx. Weighted Value of Each Credit |
|
Category 1
Energy And Carbon Emissions |
29
|
36.4%
|
1.26
|
|
Category 2
Water
|
6
|
9.0%
|
1.50
|
Category 3
Materials
|
24
|
7.2%
|
0.30
|
Category 4
Surface Water Run Off |
4
|
2.2%
|
0.55
|
Category 5
Waste
|
7
|
6.4%
|
0.91
|
Category 6
Pollution
|
4
|
2.8%
|
0.70
|
Category 7
Health and Wellbeing
|
12
|
14.0%
|
1.17
|
Category 8
Management
|
9
|
10.0%
|
1.11
|
Category 9
Ecology
|
9
|
12.0%
|
1.33
|
| TOTAL |
- |
100.0% |
- |
The relationship between the Total percentage points score and Code Level is shown below:
| Total percentage points score (Equal to or greater than) |
Code Levels |
| 36 Points |
Level 1 (*) |
| 48 Points |
Level 2 (**) |
| 57 Points |
Level 3 (***) |
| 68 Points |
Level 4 (****) |
| 84 Points |
Level 5 (*****) |
| 90 Points |
Level 6 (******) |
The Code for Sustainable Homes scoring system can be seen below:
Currently all NIBE product types are capable of achieving code level 3 and 4 as independent products, without the use of solar thermal, solar PV or MVHR.