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Social housing Retrofits
Nine measures were used in total to make the
homes more energy efficient, and were carried out
incrementally. The first was to place 100mm of phenolic
external wall insulation on the properties. Using SAP
software to model the carbon emissions reduction, this
reduced the properties’ CO2 emissions from more than
7,400 kgCO2/yr to 4,800 kgCO2/yr, potentially taking
the properties into a band D energy efficiency rating.
Next, Drum improved the properties’ air tightness,
which modelling showed should shave about 150
kgCO2/yr more from the homes’ yearly carbon
emissions.
Following that, loft insulation was doubled and
A-rated boilers were installed, placing the homes into
band C and reducing their CO2 emissions to fewer
than 2,750 kgCO2/yr. The properties stayed in band
C while further refurbishments were carried out,
including changing the light bulbs to CFLs, replacing
windows with A-rated double glazing, and installing
heat recovery ventilation and solar thermal water
systems. This took the carbon emissions down to fewer
Retofits of social housing can
> first for Radian, involved removing a section of vertical than 2,080 kgCO2/yr using SAP modelling.
act as a model for the wider
waste pipe serving the shower and the bath water, The three empty homes then had PVs installed,
housing sector
and replacing it with a coiled copper heat exchanger. which took the emissions down to fewer than 1,640
Normally, 80 per cent of the heat goes straight down kgCO2/yr and elevated those properties into band B.
the drain from this type of waste water, but this system
helped to recycle 60 per cent of the heat. Model examples
“I think the payback in a domestic situation would The works cost about £25,000 per house, a figure
be very long but you can understand that this type of which grew to £38,000 once PV packages were
technology used in a sports centre [for example] could included. In terms of total emissions, all the homes
probably fare very well indeed,” suggests Ciniglio. (except those with PV) are modelled to achieve a
Renewable technologies used in the project included 67 per cent reduction in CO2.
BRHG
installing ground source heat pumps and small One home that was heated by electricity should
Push for social
photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. achieve a 76 per cent drop in CO2 emissions, according
housing
Another aim of the project was to cut residents’ to Ciniglio.
improvement
heating and hot water bills in half, as some were He believes projects like these are important as they
paying as much as £1,300 a year, using open fires and can act as examples showing how high carbon savings
The Building Research
Housing Group was
solid fuel. Some residents have reported up to 50 per can be achieved, although he estimates that there are
formed in 1992 as a cent savings on their bills, although others realised no probably less than 100 examples of retrofit homes
social housing providers’
savings at all. Ciniglio attributes this to some residents hitting the 80 per cent target in the country.
network, working in
partnership with BRE,
taking advantage of their new thermal comfort. Ciniglio says the projects described indicate that
with the aim of sharing it is possible to achieve carbon savings in excess
information, experience
Concrete examples of 60 per cent in existing social housing through
and documents to save
time and costs.
A current project that Drum Housing Association, energy efficiency measures; and adding renewable
Membership is part of the Radian Group, is working on in Petersfield, technologies can increase this to around 80 per cent.
open to social housing
Hampshire, involves retrofitting 20 homes that are But residents’ support is vital to ensure the technologies
provider organisations,
commercial entities
constructed from precast reinforced concrete panels, deliver their potential savings.
providing services to this known as REEMA buildings. Radian spent more than a year educating residents
sector and individuals
In these properties the annual heating and hot water about ground source heat pumps in order to get
working for social
housing providers
bills were up to £1,200. The aim of this project was to maximum benefit from them in Kingsley, work which
through full, affiliated not only reduce this figure, but to reach a 70 per cent is still ongoing.
and special membership.
reduction in CO2 using energy efficiency measures. But Ciniglio adds that installing technology is not
Members have an
overall responsibility
It was decided that three empty houses would have enough: “We’re going to have to work closely with
for more than one solar technology installed in an attempt to reduce residents to influence behavioural change.” l
million homes, and
CO2 emissions by a further 20 per cent to match the
for expenditure of
more than £2.2bn per
government’s target to cut emissions by 80 per cent. www.generationhomes.org.uk
year on maintenance, It is hoped the other properties will be upgraded with
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
management and
PV once more funding becomes available.
www.brhg.org.uk
development. www.radian.co.uk
Before the project started, the homes were rated in
www.brhg.org.uk www.drumhsg.co.uk
band E in their energy performance certificates.
40 CIBSE Journal September 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEsep09 pp38,40_social_retro.indd 40 21/8/09 10:34:38
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