Sustainability Level

A dwelling at this first optional upper level should meet all standards in Sections 1-6 required for Bronze level and each of the eight aspects below.

Aspect 1: Carbon Dioxide Emissions

• Automatically achieved with compliance in SAP 2012.

Aspect 2: Energy for Space Heating

Maximum annual demand for useful energy for space heating should be:

• 40 kWh/m² for houses, or
• 30 kWh/m² for flats and maisonettes.

Aspect 3: Energy for Water Heating

At least 5% of the annual energy demand for water heating should be from heat recovery and/or renewable sources with little or no fuel costs. Examples include:

• Solar thermal water heating
• Flue Gas Heat Recovery System (FGHRS)
• Waste Water Heat Recovery System (WWHRS)

Aspect 4: Water Use Efficiency

Enhanced or additional products should be provided:

• WC’s of average flush volume not more than 4.5 Litres.
• Wash Hand Basin taps with a flow rate not more than 6 l/m.
• Shower heads with a flow rate not more than 8 l/m.
• 1 water butt (min capacity of 200 litres) for outdoor use per dwelling. Unless there is no access for rainwater collection.

All to Bathroom Manufacturers Associations water efficiency product labelling scheme (BMA scheme).

Aspect 5: Optimising Performance

• Quick start guide – Provide guidance to occupants on dwelling performance and intended function.
• Resource use display – Install a real time resource use monitor displaying electricity use, located in an easily accessible position.

Aspect 6: Flexibility and Adaptability

Provide a home office space dedicated for home working/study.

• A clear space against a wall or partition where a desk is 180mm long x 600mm deep.
• 2 Switched electrical sockets in addition to those that should be provided under Section 4.
• A connection to allow direct access to internet services.
• General ventilation, accessibility, safety and fire escape should meet all other standards.

Aspect 7: Well Being and Security

a) Noise separation between dwellings

• Min Airborne sound insulation – 58 dB DnT,w.
• Max Impact sound transmission – 54 dB L’nT,w.

b) Noise reduction between rooms

Design performance level for a minimum airborne sound insulation between all rooms and floors should be 44 dB Rw.

c) Enhanced Natural lighting

The enhanced apartment should be provided with a glazed area of not less that 1/8^th of the floor area.

d) Security

Install a 13amp fused spur, suitable for an intruder alarm system, located 2m of the main entrance door.

Aspect 8: Material Use and Waste

Recycling of solid waste – Provide dedicated internal space with a volume of at least 0.12m³ (120 litres) and no dimension less than 450mm, for storing recyclable material.

Silver active

This is the same as the silver level but, in addition, the dwelling includes the use of Low and Zero Carbon Technology (LZCGT) in respect of meeting at least one of the aspects: Silver 1, Silver 2 or Silver 3.

• Wind Turbine.
• Water Turbine.
• Heat Pumps (all varieties).
• Solar Thermal Panels.
• Photovoltaic Panels (PV).
• Combined Heat and Power Units.
• Fuel Cells.
• Biomass boilers/stoves and biogas.

A dwelling at this second optional upper level should meet all aspects of Bronze level and in addition the dwelling should comply with the gold level in each of the eight aspects.

Aspect Gold level 1: Carbon Dioxide Emissions

• DER (Dwelling Emissions Rate) is to be 27% lower that the TER (Target Emissions Rate) set by the 2015 Standards.
• The TER from SAP 2012 should be multiplied by 0.73 (42.8%), to give a revised figure which the DER should not exceed.
• 60% improvement on the 2007 Standards.
• For a block of flats

Aspect Gold level 2: Energy Space Heating

Maximum annual demand for energy space heating.

• 30kWh/m² for houses, or
• 20 kWh/m² for flats and maisonettes.

Aspect Gold level 3: Energy for Water Heating

At least 5% of the annual energy demand for water heating should be from.

Renewables and Heat Recovery: At least 50% of the dwellings annual energy demand for water heating should be from:

• Heat recovery and/or renewable sources with little or no fuel costs.
• Solar thermal water heating.
• Flue Gas Heat Recovery or Waste Water Heat Recovery.

Water Heating Display: A display showing the performance of the primary renewable source, such as a water collector, should be mounted in an easily accessible space.

Aspect Gold level 4: Water Use Efficiency

Enhanced or additional products should be provided.

• 1 water butt (min capacity of 200 litres) for outdoor use per dwelling. Unless there is no access for rainwater collection.

3 of the following:

• Water meter
• WC’s of average flush volume not more than 3.5 Litres.
• Wash Hand Basin taps with a flow rate not more than 4 l/m.
• Kitchen or utility room sinks to be now more than 6 l/m.
• Shower heads with a flow rate not more than 6 l/m.
• Rain water harvesting or greywater recycling system for toilet flushing.

All to Bathroom Manufacturers Associations water efficiency product labelling scheme (BMA scheme).

Aspect Gold level 5: Optimising Performance

• Quick start guide – As per Aspect Silver 5, plus: Direct ‘easy release’ adhesive labels on all key heating and ventilation equipment including, trickle vents, extract fans, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), heating controls.
• Resource use display – As per Aspect Silver 5, plus real-time resource display which indicates daily gas use.

Aspect Gold level 6: Flexibility and Adaptability

Home office as per Aspect Silver 6.

Mobility space: Provide convenient secure mobility space to accommodate:

• An electric wheelchair (or pram) storage of: 0.8m x 1.1m on plan, min height of 1.8m. Dwelling of 4 apartments; or over 150m²; space for two electric wheelchairs.
• Bicycle storage space of: 2m x 0.75m on plan, min height of 1.2m. Dwellings of 3 apartments or more; or over 150m²; space for two bicycles: 1m x 1.5m.
• A recharging outlet adjacent entrance in a protected enclosure.
• A motor vehicle garage could be adequate as long as bicycle storage is out with a 4.8m x 2.4m space for parking a single motor vehicle or:
• Secure Communal bicycle storage with access ramp.

General storage provision within a dwelling

• Accessible storage of 1m³ in volume per apartment.

Aspect Gold level 7: Well Being and Security

Noise separation

• Min Airborne – 60 Db DnT,w.
• Max Impact – 52 Db L’nT,w.

Noise Reduction

Design performance level for a minimum Airborne sound insulation should be 45 dB Rw. (Internal partitions)

Enhanced Natural lighting

As per Silver Aspect 7 plus an average daylight factor for kitchens and living room/dining/study should be 1.5% and 2% respectively. (Refer to Gold Standard for calculation)

Security

As per Silver level 7 plus:

• Provide doorsets and windows which are tested and certified or
• Install full intruder alarm system that complies with BS EN 50131 or
• Class VI alarm to BS 6799.

Outdoor Space

Provide a private or communal outdoor space with room for occupants to sit outside. Must compromise of at least one of the following:

• A private garden, patio, roof terrace or balcony.
• A communal secure shared garden or courtyard.

Aspect 8: Material Use and Waste

Recycling of solid waste – As per Aspect Silver 8

Design for de-construction

• Demonstrate that key principles of demountable construction detailing have been followed. Demonstrate a min of 3 high or medium priority items as per the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) or
• Provide a detail plan for de-construction of the building that follows a template such as that of page 21 SEDA document or
• An option only where a site is occupied and the warrant application is for demolition and construction.

Provide a pre-demolition audit of existing buildings on site. Waste and Resources Action Plan (WRAP):

• Bill of quantities in the building being demolished
• Identifies the tonnages of material that can be removed and
• Determines the percentage of materials recovered.

All the standards in Sections 1 – 6 that apply to the building for Bronze level, and in addition the building should comply with the following.

Aspect Platinum 1: Carbon dioxide emissions

Under the guidance to Standard 6.1, carbon dioxide emissions CO2 Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) is to be 100% lower than the Target Emission Rate (TER) set by the 2010 Standards. To establish this, the DER should not exceed zero. (This net zero carbon equivalent is a 100% improvement on the 2007 Standards). Where a building contains more than one dwelling (such as a block of flats or terrace of houses) the average carbon dioxide emissions for the proposed block or terrace (DER) may be compared to the average target CO2 emissions (TER) for the ‘notional block or terrace’, similar to guidance in Section 6.