Altering existing buildings in the UK

Roberts, Simon

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2008.09.023

Cited by 144 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…As existing insulation levels approach 300mm and 50mm respectively, the savings become so small that they are not worthwhile. Roberts (2008a) states that cavity wall insulation can reduce heat loss through walls by up to 40% and when insulating the walls and roofs of un insulated older buildings to post 1990 standards, then a 50 80% reduction in heat loss through these elements can be achieved. Determining the actual savings requires knowledge of how much heat was originally being lost through the fabric.…”

Section: Energy Savings From Conventional Retrofit Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…SAP ratings across the English housing stock] A proposed target for 2050 is to raise the average SAP rating of the UK building stock to 80, in line with today's modern building standards (Roberts 2008a). Comparatively, the national average SAP rating is much lower, being 52.1 in 2006 (BERR 2008).…”

Section: 0mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Likewise, Roberts (2008a), states that 60% of UK domestic houses had unfilled cavity walls in 2004. Regarding double glazing, despite the high capital costs, levels are expected to reach saturation over the coming decades since all new glazing renovations must achieve a minimum centre pane U value of 1.2 W/m 2 K or an overall U value of 1.8 W/m 2 K, except for in rare specific circumstances such as listed building status.…”

Section: 0mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, the highest concentrations of the lowest SAP ratings can be found in the older pre 1919 stock, demonstrating a large correlation between age and energy performance. Around 40% of pre 1919 homes have SAP ratings from 1 40 (Roberts 2008a). …”

Section: 0mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Domestic UK retrofit challenge: Barriers, incentives and current performance leading into the Green Deal

et al. 2012

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This paper reviews the thermal performance of the existing UK housing stock, the main fabric efficiency incentive schemes and the barriers to obtaining deep energy and CO 2 savings throughout the stock. The UK faces a major challenge to improve the thermal performance of its existing housing stock. Millions of dwellings possess 'hard to treat' solid walls and have glazing which is not cost effective to improve. A range of fabric efficiency incentive schemes exist, but many do not target the full range of private and social housing. From now on, the Green Deal will be the UK's key energy efficiency policy. However, the scheme is forecasted to have low consumer appeal and low incentives for investors. Moreover, calculated Green Deal loan repayments will be reliant upon estimated energy savings, yet it is claimed that retrofit measures may only be half as effective as anticipated due to a lack of monitoring, poor quality installation and the increased use of heating following refurbishment. Looking to Germany, there has been success through the Passivhaus standard, but the UK currently lacks appropriate skills and cost effective components to replicate this approach. In addition, the embodied energy in retrofit products and materials threatens to counter operational savings.

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Section: Energy Savings From Conventional Retrofit Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 0mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 0mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 0mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Domestic UK retrofit challenge: Barriers, incentives and current performance leading into the Green Deal

et al. 2012

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“…Energy performance can be generally correlated with building age, although individual domestic energy performance varies widely due to the frequency and types of refurbishment as well as wide--ranging occupancy patterns. Houses from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries were built with solid walls whilst most houses from the 1930s onward were built with cavity walls to prevent damp penetration (Roberts, 2008).…”

Section: Energy Efficiency and The Housing Stockmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards systemic domestic retrofit: a social practices approach

Karvonen

2013

Building Research & Information

131

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The current housing stock accounts will play an important role in achieving the 2050 national carbon reduction targets. Upgrading the energy performance of the existing housing stock is a significant challenge because retrofit activities are shaped by a wide range of fragmented policies, programmes, and actors. Existing approaches to housing retrofit focus on regulations, financial incentives, and information provision but it is argued these are insufficient to realise large--scale, deep changes in energy consumption. An agenda is proposed for systemic domestic retrofit to realise radical changes in the housing stock through community--based partnerships. These programmes are based on a social practices approach that promotes social innovation. Wide--ranging energy efficiency upgrades can be achieved through the development and realisation of customised solutions to local groups of houses through facilitated engagement between occupants, housing providers, community groups, local authorities, and construction professionals. Community--based domestic retrofit programmes serve to reframe the governance of domestic energy performance and suggest alternative routes for realising significant reductions in energy demand through changes in stakeholders' understanding and social practices (habits, perceptions and motivations) when coupled with physical interventions. Keywords: energy efficiency, housing, retrofit, socio--technical, social practices, sustainable consumption 2 Introduction High carbon consumption is embedded in contemporary British lifestyles and this is clearly evident in the domestic building stock. Housing accounts for over a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions and will play a significant role in meeting the stringent carbon reduction targets of 2050. The energy performance of houses is 'locked in' during design and construction activities, and opportunities for upgrade only arise during infrequent refurbishment activities. 1 Reflecting on domestic retrofit activities, a key conclusion was:'empirical evidence and experience suggest that it will be neither particularly easy nor particularly cheap to reduce energy use in buildings. However, there is a perception in government that energy efficiency in buildings is straightforward and requires minimal investment.' Oreszczyn and Lowe (2010: 110) Challenges to energy efficient domestic retrofit include a highly variegated housing stock, a low rate of property turnover, disruption and inconvenience to occupants, undesirable payback periods for many energy efficiency strategies, lack of occupant interest in energy efficiency, and the lack of a knowledgeable and competent workforce to advise homeowners and implement energy efficiency strategies. Whereas a small number of actors (notably national homebuilders and developers) dominate the new--build housing agenda, the existing housing stock involves thousands of product manufacturers, installers, local councils, and charity organisations as well as building owners and occupants. As such, developing and...

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Retrofit innovation in the UK social housing sector

Swan¹

2013

Retrofitting the Built Environment

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Altering existing buildings in the UK

Cited by 144 publications

References 4 publications

Domestic UK retrofit challenge: Barriers, incentives and current performance leading into the Green Deal

Domestic UK retrofit challenge: Barriers, incentives and current performance leading into the Green Deal

Towards systemic domestic retrofit: a social practices approach

Retrofit innovation in the UK social housing sector

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