SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
SIG SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
GOES BACK TO THE FUTURE
IG Sustainable Products has
S
signed a major agreement with
the University of Nottingham’s
School of the Built Environment
and energy giant E-ON to
provide a range of high quality
sustainable building products to refurbish
a specially built 1930s style house and
turn it into an energy efficient home of the
future.
The three year research project will
investigate how a typical home can be
upgraded, using the latest high quality
sustainable building products to reduce
carbon emissions. It will also show how
existing housing stock into line with the
carbon neutral status which the
Government is seeking for all new homes
by 2016.
Ranging from insulation, draft
proofing and lighting to rain and grey
water harvesting, as well as heating and
domestic power generation, SIG will
provide all the construction products
required to significantly improve the
energy efficiency of the ‘1930s House’.
The building supplier was chosen to work
on the project due to its ability to deliver
independent expert advice on specialist
products.
Paul Roche, Director of Sustainable
Products at SIG PLC, comments: “Both
government and industry acknowledge into the walls have logged exactly how and also reducing the impact we all have
that a radical step change in the way we much power and water the family have on the environment.
currently design and build is required if consumed and the temperature and “The average 1930s house had many
the UK’s environmental targets are to be humidity inside the house. The latest flaws when it comes to energy efficiency
met. However, even with an increased rate tracking devices have monitored the and many of these are still affecting
of new build, estimates suggest that 90 family’s movement and using thermal millions of British homes of that era which
per cent of buildings standing in 2050 imaging, researchers have been able to are still being lived in. With the ideas
have already been built. It makes the need see just how much energy the property being developed here, ideas which could
to tackle existing housing stock, which has been losing. cost anywhere from £50 to more than
counts for 27 per cent of CO
2
emissions, Dr Gillott, from the University of £5,000, we are looking at ways our
even more of a priority.” Nottingham School for the Built customers can cut their bills and reduce
He adds: “For the majority of Environment said: “We will have to their carbon.”
homeowners, ‘going green’ is regarded as retro-fit low carbon measures to existing For further information go to:
both complicated and expensive – an homes to significantly reduce our carbon
www.sigplc.co.uk
attitude further reinforced given the emissions because most of the UK housing
current economic climate. This event will stock of 25 million properties will still be
therefore demonstrate that there are a occupied in 2050. This event will give our
wide range of practical and realistic students and the public a valuable insight
solutions that are available to into what solutions are available to
homeowners with tangible environmental radically reduce carbon emissions and
and economic benefits to improve the improve energy efficiency in existing
building performance of their homes.” homes.”
Throughout the winter researchers David Clarke, E.ON’s Head of
have subjected a family living in the Research and Development, said: “As a
‘1930s House’ to ‘big brother’ style company and as a country we face the
monitoring. More than 100 sensors built challenges of keeping energy affordable
SUSTAINABLE FM | MAY 2009
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