Part L explained:

Are you involved in designing, constructing or renovating an existing dwelling? If so, you’ll be aware that all buildings now need to comply with new Part L Building Regulations which came into effect on 15 June 2022.

The Government has a target for all homes to be highly energy efficient and ‘zero carbon ready’ by 2025; these homes are expected to produce 75-80% lower carbon emissions compared to current levels. To help achieve this, there is guidance by way of a number of regulations from Part A to P that have been published affecting builders including those planning home renovations. Part L is a building regulation that sets thermal efficiency standards for energy performance and carbon emissions for all new and existing dwellings.

Part L decrees that all new homes should be built with the aim to increase the conservation of fuel and power. This, as well as other building regulations such as for ventilation would apply to any home renovations too. The regulations stipulate that all new homes must produce 30% less carbon emissions relative to the 2013 Part L standards. Part L is also part of steps towards the Future Homes Standards which will come into effect in 2025 enforcing stringent changes to make all buildings energy efficient.

Heating and providing power to a home accounts for around 40% of a home’s total energy use. It is this that the Government are targeting to see a reduction.

So what things can be put in place during a home build or renovation to reduce carbon emissions by 30%?

This would include insulation, new low flow temperature requirements for heating systems, improved glazing, ventilation (recommendations for replacement windows to be fitted with vents or alternate forms of ventilation), installation of solar PV and waste water heat recovery.

A shower heat exchanger is recognised as energy saving technology and therefore will help self-builders, renovators and construction companies meet Part L building regulations. A waste water heat recovery system (WWHRS) can help reduce carbon emissions by 15% for a standard three-bedroom home. The device is SAP listed and is considered to be a cost-effective energy efficient (renewable) technology.

SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) is a methodology used by the Government to assess and compare the energy and performance of homes.
Zypho works by extracting heat from outgoing waste shower water as it flows down the drain.

Given the large amount of energy we currently lose down the drain, Zypho shower heat exchanger is a major energy efficiency improvement and supports the new Part L Building Regulations.