How Can the Code for Sustainable Homes Deliver the UK Zero Carbon Homes?

The housing sector entails a significant part of the UK‘s environmental impact, accounting for over a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions. As a result, the UK government has set the target of zero carbon homes by 2016 and has placed the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) on top of its agenda. However, policy instruments have not often succeeded in imposing robust building codes and standards for limiting domestic energy consumption. Accordingly, how can the UK government ambitions be achieved; both in terms of effectively applying the CSH, and ensuring the individual, household and organisational pro-environmental behaviour? The paper discusses two key elements proposed to support the UK achieve its aspiration through the effective delivery of the CSH. Firstly, the government is to set a clearly laid-out target for the level of carbon reduction required from each Code home. This is to help the users understand their targeted carbon reduction and how it is interpreted into their home energy performance, besides helping the government evaluate and monitor the performance of these homes. Secondly; policy makers are to consider planning properly tailored policy packages -making the right choices, and picking the accurate combinations of policy tools- that appropriately address the occupants of the Code homes. If decision makers are to consider changing environmentally disruptive activities, they need to understand the nature and causes of those activities.