The Welsh Assembly Government has requested that all housing built on their land or with their finances must meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 and Level 4 asap, and there is currently consultation that by April 2009 all housing developments over 10 units will have to meet Code Level 3, (it will be regulated via Planning).

Architects have a key role to play in helping developers meet the Code for Sustainable Homes, therefore BRE Wales will run a series of workshops explaining how Code for Sustainable Homes works and is assessed, and how design affects the achievement of the standard. 

The workshop will primarily focus on how architects can meet the requirement to improve the housing performance above Part L i.e. 25% improvement for level 3 and 44% improvement for Level 4. BRE will provide examples and guidance on methodologies that designers can use to deliver low energy houses covering issues such as air tightness, thermal bridging and U values, and will cover issues such as whole life costing. 

Speaker

Nick Tune set up the BRE Wales operation in August 2005 and has grown the business to 9 staff and 2 chairs at Cardiff University. The BRE in Wales have developed close working relationships with all key main construction bodies in Wales including the Welsh Assembly Government, Construct Wales, Construction Skills , Constructing Excellence, Housing Associations and RSL's and major Construction Contractors.

Nick is an advisor to the Heads of the Valleys Programme to help deliver sustainable construction initiatives, and has instigated a £50m renewable energy programme. He also sits and participates on many sustainable construction initiatives and steering groups in Wales, such as TAN 22 the development of the sustainable construction guidance for planning. 

BRE Wales delivers projects such as:

• The development of Sustainable Design Guidance for the Welsh Assembly Government
• The role out of Code for Sustainable Homes pilot project for the Welsh Assembly Government
• Environmental Consultancy on BREEAM and Low Carbon Building Design
• Sustainable procurement
• The delivery of a research programme monitoring and measuring construction waste for new build projects such as housing, schools, hospitals, etc
• Timber research and development on behalf of the Forestry Commission and businesses in Wales.