ABSTRACT
The revised Part L of the Building Regulations was published on 31 October 2001. The main thrust of the revisions is to control carbon emissions from buildings created by their environmental services. 46% of the UK’s carbon emissions relate to the occupation of buildings. The Kyoto protocol set targets for a reduction in the production of six greenhouse gases to 12½% below their 1990 output by 2008-2012. In addition the Government has also set a target for the reduction of carbon dioxide production to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. The revisions to Part L is one of the Government’s principal tools in promoting their post-Kyoto environmental agenda. Much of the impact of the new Part L will be felt by house builders, as domestic housing produces almost 59% of the UK’s building related carbon output, and it is the prime target of the new regulations. However, the regulations also set challenging targets for nondomestic buildings which will affect designers, constructors and clients. A phased programme of revisions to Part L is also planned as part of an on-going process to increase the performance of buildings to meet the 2010 carbon production targets.
