What are the minimum energy benchmarks for new dwellings?
A. With effect from 06 April 2006 performance standards for new dwellings are set on the basis of annual carbon dioxide emissions comparing the proposed design with a notional building having the same size and shape etc built to comply with the specifications in Annex N to SAP 2005. Appendix N is based on the performance standards given in the Elemental Method in Approved Document L1 published in 2002. The proposed building must be 20% better than the notional building. This system provides design flexibility but there are limits on this flexibility which are given in Approved Document L1A as applicable in normal circumstances.
