A Guide to Part L 2006
6 April 2006 saw the introduction of changes to Part L of the Building Regulations in England and Wales (similar changes were introduced in Northern Ireland November 2006 and Scotland May 2007). The changes are intended to:
- reduce the UK’s emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide. The operation of buildings accounts for 46% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions; the intention behind the regulations is to reduce emissions for new buildings by 20 - 27% compared to the 2002 regulations.
- implement parts of the European Union’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which requires the introduction of standardised methods of assessing the energy efficiency of buildings. For dwellings the selected method is a revised version of the government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP 2005), whilst for other buildings the government has introduced the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM).
- reduce fuel poverty.
