Outcomes of government funding for...innovations in refurbishment and new build… Dr. Fionnuala Costello, Low Impact Buildings Innovation Platform, Technology Strategy Board

I will talk about UK drivers for energy efficiency in buildings Outcomes from UK government funding for – Supply chain integration in new build housing – Adapting buildings to future climate – Retrofit of existing housing for energy efficiency Future funding opportunities – Performance evaluation, Adaptation, Build processes

Buildings have a very large environmental footprint. There is a huge business opportunity in reducing that footprint

40-45% of all carbon emissions in the UK come from buildings

Climate Change Act (2008) Low Carbon Transition Plan Code for Sustainable Homes Building regulations changes to 2016 Construction IGT (BIS, 2010) –few have understanding of sheer scale –disbelief about necessary changes in customer behaviour –biggest change management since Victoria times. UK Green Building Council Manifesto (2010), Household Energy Management (DECC and CLG, 2010), UK Government response and drivers

Technology Strategy Board A national body, funded by government, investing in business innovation Aiming for the UK to be a global leader in innovation Working across businesses, universities and government Investing £1bn over first 3 years

Low-Impact Building Innovation Platform Launched May 2008 £47m budget committed on >400 projects £30m more available until 2014 Our aim is to enable UK industry to supply the emerging market in low-impact buildings driven by UK Government policy and procurement on new build and refurbishment.

Low Impact Buildings Funding to date Building Performance Evaluation £8m open programme. Components & materials £3m CR&D programme Design & decision tools £4m CR&D programme Design for future climate £5m 2011 Retrofit for the future £17m SBRI User centred design £2m Sandpit Energy Efficient Whitehall £2m SBRI AIM-C4, £3.4m Design for future climate £5m Eracobuild Sustainable Renovation Approx £1m

Supply chain integration

Aim - C4 Aiming for Code level 4 without renewables – Fabric first solution Consortium of BRE, Stewart Milne, Crest Nicholson, – Companies who deliver 15% of new build housing in UK Key is cost control and supply chain integration to deliver performance – Supply chain workshops 3 demonstrator (real) developments – Look and feel like conventional homes

Adapting to the future climate

In 2010 we funded 26 adaptation strategies Adaptation strategies for projects with a combined value of £2.7bn. Supporting adaptation work and developing skills 120 companies and 9 local authority clients.

Example: ExtraCare 4 Exeter by Exeter City Council Key Issues Increased internal temperatures Increased external temperatures Changing rainfall patterns Localised air pollution Vulnerable user group

Passive Adaptation 4 Heat 1.Passive Cross ventilation Super insulated envelope Intelligent Ventilation control Extracting heat at source Mass vs light weight Living plants / landscape Solar shading Cross flow vent 10-15% over heating improvement over single sided ventilation Overheating Criteria not to exceed 1% occupied hours over 25 o C Super-insulated, air tight envelope helps to stabilise internal temperatures and reduce solar gain penetration 3 – 6% improvement Intelligent window control 4% improvement Mass vs light weight 2-4% improvement with mass Local shading 2% improvement Relocation of internal heat gains from plant outside thermal envelope 5% improvement Green microclimate reduce summer temperatures by 3 o C Evaporation / Transpiration Green roofPleasant shaded spaces for cooling Less 1.5 o c by microclimate

Example: ExtraCare 4 Exeter Council Air conditioning can be avoided into 2080 with a passive approach The Climate Change Adaptation work has directly influenced the design of the building People centred Room ceiling fans Drinking points Management / staff heat stress awareness and training No cooking in flats during heat waves Active design Heat extraction at source Temperature sensor warning system for vent control MVHR coupled with ventilation control MVHR ground cooling

Factsheets on projects funded in 2010 weblinks

Retrofit for the Future Housing accounts for a quarter of UK CO 2 emissions. Aim to demonstrate if and how 80%+ emission reductions can be achieved in existing housing stock

National competition 86 projects covering a total of 119 dwellings £17 million of government funding Deep emissions cuts (~80%) Improved indoor comfort Social housing focus but lessons for all Spread of house types and technologies Monitored and reported! Key Facts

Geographical Spread

Construction Types

Some examples

Example Brent Passive by Green Structures

Thermal Accumulator & On-demand Solar CHP Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is the temporary storage of high or low temperature energy for later use.

Triple glazed window Low U-values: –glazing 0.58; frame 0.9 Response to conservation area requirements Sash-style, with tilt/turn opening mechanism Identical to regular sash, –but with >thermal efficiency & >air tightness Prototyping in two properties Next phase could be PassivHaus certification

Advanced heating controls 2/3 rds of householders cant set their thermostats Wattbox occupancy based heating controller –removes need for manual setting –senses and learns household occupancy patterns to build a heating time clock –turns down heating when out, or on holiday –better comfort is achieved if control temperature varies e.g. with time of day and weather) –saves energy, CO 2 and heating bills

Application of established technologies (eg internal and external wall insulation) is the easy part Project management to deliver quality build and performance much more difficult Working with occupants to achieve energy savings, improved indoor comfort and occupant satisfaction the biggest challenge of all Main Challenges

We are very aware of the significant social challenges faced by people on low incomes and understand that a low carbon lifestyle may not be their greatest concern. Our scheme makes use of effective sustainable technologies that are simple and robust enough to fit into peoples daily routines. By making it easy for residents to adopt slightly different habits, we hope they will become generally more engaged with low carbon lifestyles. Craig White Director, White Design Example: Bristol

Monitoring and Reporting Pre-retrofit tests and measurement Construction monitoring Post completion tests and walk-through Occupant satisfaction surveys Ongoing monitoring of energy, comfort and technology performance Data and results available in non-attributable form via web portal

Early results – pre-retrofit air leakage B.Regs Part L1a

Early results – Air leakage pre- and post-retrofit B.Regs Part L1a

Early results - thermography Reduced heat loss compared to neighbour and surface temperatures close to ambient

retrofitdiaries.org/ weblinks

Low Impact Buildings Future Funding opportunities Build Process £4m Management & operation £3m Building Performance Evaluation £8m open programme. Design for Future Climate £2.5m competition Retrofit funding models £1.5m Integrating with sustainable infrastructure £5m Scaling-up retrofit £3m

Build Process adapting the supply chain and build process to deliver low-impact buildings quickly, economically, at scale, and with low levels of defects that meet current requirements and target performance –Competition planned for Jan 2012 for UK companies and universities

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