Although there remain a number of sceptics and companies who would prefer the Code to disappear, because it has the potential to adversely affect their businesses, there are others who are proactively and positively embracing it.
For example the Technology Strategy Board has recently provided financial support to an innovation/research project called AIMC4. This project aims to deliver Code level 4 housing at lower or equivalent cost, with fewer defects (snags), less waste, and shorter and more predictable build times (giving improved return on capital) than current housing
Materials, design and construction AIMC4 focuses on materials/product selection, effective design and better construction practices, rather than more expensive renewable energy technology solutions. The project partners include BRE, Barratt, Crest Nicholson, Stewart Milne, H & H and Oxford Brooks – and others will join.
Basic principles of environmental sustainability apply – minimise resource use (materials and time), minimise waste arisings, reuse/recycle waste that does arise, and optimise efficiency. These all reduce environmental impacts and, if thought through carefully, reduce cost. The outcome will be cost equivalent/cheaper and lower environmental impact buildings. We are not quite there yet, but there is certainly positive movement in that direction.
We have an opportunity to take relevant elements of recent experiences in delivering low environmental impact new build, and apply them to the existing housing stock. The Government, across relevant departments and agencies, is actively seeking solutions, as is the private sector involved in existing stock. And it is a key priority area for BRE – discussed further below.
The scale of the challenge Existing housing The UK domestic stock is the oldest in Europe and consists of some 25 million dwellings. Existing housing stock currently achieves an average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D/E and more than 5 million homes achieve an F/G. To achieve an 80% reduction, the average EPC rating will have to be brought up to a band B or better, a level only currently achieved by 1-2% of the housing stock.
‘Hard-to-Treat’ (HTT) homes constitute a substantial proportion (43%, i.e. about 10 million dwellings) of the stock and are responsible for half of domestic CO² emissions. They are also expensive to treat and have therefore not been subject to major refurbishment. These dwellings have single skin solid walls (there are more than 6 million of these in the UK, mostly Victorian or earlier), or no lofts, or are off the gas network and/
|68| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE
or are high-rise flats. Remedies for these homes involve implementing unfamiliar, innovative solutions, using new skills, techniques, technologies and products.
Energy efficiency measures There is a wide and growing range of measures that property owners can implement to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Some measures, like loft insulation, draft excluders and cavity wall insulation (for housing with wall cavities!), are simple and effective. Changing to an improved boiler system is also likely to be effective, but requires more expert advice to make the right choice.
Further measures, such as the most appropriate internal wall insulation, the most cost and carbon effective renewable energy system or the correct mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system, are more difficult to specify and procure. This is because the solutions need to be properly tailored to the house construction type and its condition.
To add to this mix, there are a number of new, exciting and innovative products that are being assessed for use. These include highly efficient aerogel insulation, phase change (temperature moderating) products and smart metering. Global, science based companies, such as St Gobain, DuPont, 3M and BASF, are investing heavily in developing these products for use in existing buildings.
So, on the positive side there is now a whole host of solutions that have the potential to cost effectively reduce CO² emissions from existing housing. However, on the negative side the wide and growing number of solutions, and the requirement to ensure that the right measures are implemented for a myriad of house types and conditions, makes the selection of the right solution challenging at best and downright confusing at worst!
Good news with the Green Deal Earlier this year the Government announced the arrival of the Green Deal, an initiative that aims to transform the energy efficiency of current housing stock. Under the scheme homeowners will be entitled to spend up to £6,500 improving the energy efficiency of their home. Repayment will be from savings in future energy bills – but with the homeowner still seeing an overall saving. Crucially, if the property is sold, the repayment will continue to be made through the energy bills by the new owner. The Green Deal will be open to homes and businesses and will involve a 3-step process:
Step 1 – an independent energy survey of the property, giving clear advice on the best energy efficiency options, such as loft or cavity wall insulation. Step 2 – Green Deal finance to be provided by a range of accredited providers, which will be repaid through savings on energy bills, making properties cheaper to run from day one.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152