A definition for sustainable homes
Perceived barrier to sustainable homes: No one will agree on a definition or standard for sustainable homes.
One of the perceived key barriers to progress identified by stakeholders was the lack of consensus around a common standard for sustainable homes.
WWF found general agreement that the BRE EcoHomes scheme was a good starting point. While EcoHomes is not perfect, it does begin to address the fundamental impact of housing on the environment, and BRE is committed to developing and improving the standard over time. WWF supports EcoHomes "Very Good" and "Excellent" standards as a good measure of new and refurbished homes that have significantly less impact on the environment.
WWF is a member of BRE's EcoHomes steering group, which oversees the continuing development and improvement of the standard, and a separate steering group overseeing the development of EcoHomes for existing homes and minor refurbishment. Since the start of the OMSH campaign, EcoHomes has been adopted by English Partnerships, Housing Corporation, ECOSE (ECO South East), SEEDA, the Environment Agency, the Egan Review and the SBTG.
"We consider it essential to improve quality of place, and recommend that all new proposals for major building developments should meet recognised design quality guidelines or standards where they exist - for example - BREEAM EcoHomes."
The Egan Review, Skills for Sustainable Communities, April 2004
"We have reviewed the range of existing standards and guidance and concluded that the framework and methodology of BRE’s BREEAM and EcoHomes offer the most practical and applicable basis for the Code [for Sustainable Buildings]."
Sustainable Buildings Task Group, Better Buildings, Better Lives, May 2004
WWF's other sustainable home strategies
Fiscal incentives
Planning and building
Investor support
Competitive cost
Consumer awareness