Energy Statement

[dabba]

In the planning process for a self build bungalow (plus bedroom & bathroom in roof space) design all agreed,

I've been sent the draft conditions all straight forward apart from one  'details shall demonstrate a reduction in carbon emissions of a least 28% through the provision of renewable or low carbon technologies or through energy efficiency measures and at least a 19% reduction in dwelling emission rate compared to the Target Emission rate' 

I think this is a new requirement for our area, and I'm struggling to find any formation how to address this condition, I would welcome some advice please.         

[the_r_sole]

get a sap calc done and see if the score is 19% below the target emission rate

[dabba]

Thanks for reply, would this need to be done by a specialist?  

[A_L]

1 hour ago, dabba said:

'details shall demonstrate a reduction in carbon emissions of a least 28% through the provision of renewable or low carbon technologies or through energy efficiency measures

 

relative to what? particularly if insulation/mvhr can be considered an energy efficiency measure

 

2 minutes ago, dabba said:

Thanks for reply, would this need to be done by a specialist?  

 

Usually by an OCDEA (On Construction Domestic Assessor) who would also do the carbon emissions as part of the design SAP assessment

[ADLIan]

I come across these types of planning conditions on a regular basis and it is obvious that they are written by people who don't know what they are talking about. You actually have 2 slightly different conditions here, I normally deal with these as follows;

• The 19% reduction in DER over the TER is simple and will probably mean using renewables/low energy (need to check with the planners what is included or allowable here!)
• The 28% reduction is arrived at by removing all of the above renewables and comparing the DER/TER (this dwelling may fail the Regs but this is not an issue for the planning condition). Ask the question of the planners - doubt you'll get a sensible reply!

As above get an OCDEA on board asap to advise.

 

[dabba]

Thanks Ian,

Planner not able to help much as you say, it is new to our area, I'll look out for a local (York) OCDEA adviser   

[ADLIan]

Ridiculous situation of local authority introducing these conditions and not having a clue what they are doing.

 

Sometimes there is a get out clause stating if the planning condition makes the scheme not economically viable the condition can be dropped. A scheme of 17 houses near me had a similar condition dropped when the developer made a simple statement to this effect but no figures or costings to back up this statement!

 

Has the local authority a 'sustainability officer' or similar you could ask.

[pdf27]

Can I just check my understanding of this is correct?

• The 19% reduction is saying that the SAP CO₂ emissions must be at least 19% better than a building of the same shape and size built to building regulations minimum.
• The 28% reduction is in practice saying that you must have a big enough PV system to offset 28% of the CO₂ emissions of your final building.

[A_L]

@pdf27

 

1 hour ago, pdf27 said:

The 19% reduction is saying that the SAP CO₂ emissions must be at least 19% better than a building of the same shape and size built to building regulations minimum.

 

The 19% reduction is saying that the SAP CO₂ emissions must be at least 19% better than a building of the same shape and size built to the notional building specification in Appendix R of SAP2012 (page108). Can also be found in Part L1A.

 

1 hour ago, pdf27 said:

The 28% reduction is in practice saying that you must have a big enough PV system to offset 28% of the CO₂ emissions of your final building.

 

IMHO The 28% is so undefined as to be impossible to quantify

Edited March 18, 2021 by A_L

[ADLIan]

+1

[dabba]

Thanks for your replies, I must admit it came out of the blue, checked with planner and it definitely must stay as a condition, I was hoping to see earlier applications with this requirement to see what they had come up with but its that recent I can't find any.