The Cyril Sweett report: A cost review of the Code for Sustainable Homes certainly shines a spotlight on the supply side of the industry.

It looked at discounts for bulk purchase. Although responses were variable, ground source heat pumps could offer 30-60% on orders over 5000; solar thermal and rainwater harvesting 20-30%; biomass boilers and greywater recyling (in-house) 10-20%, with ‘special conditions’ applying for wind turbines and external greywater systems.

Nonetheless for very large orders there would be a need to implement special arrangements to ensure delivery and these might have the impact of an increased product lead time or a reduction on the level of discount. 

Photovoltaic companies didn’t reply. Micro CHP wasn’t included as it not available for widespread adoption, yet.

Technology items likely to be required to meet the code where cost differential and change required is low, for example, low flow taps, low flush toilets and fridges will rapidly become mainstream and will ultimately replace ‘standard’ products.

Technology items where cost differential and change required is high, for example micro CHP, PV will also reduce in cost. 

The report says this could be significant for micro CHP, small scale wind turbines and solar water heating systems, which are favoured by the Code requirements. 

However, it is likely that some residual cost premium will still be present for some time.

There are plenty of other emerging technologies jockeying for a place in the sun.
The report says provided there is a strong market incentive in place, it should be possible to achieve further savings in energy and water consumption either by use of new approaches such as fuel cells or thermal storage systems or by making existing technologies more cost effective/efficient as in the case of vertical axis turbines and thin film PV.

The future’s bright...