Project launches into designing eco-friendly way of retrofitting homes
It's hoped the scheme - ran by an alliance of universities across the South West and South Wales - will help the UK on its path to Net Zero Carbon
Last updated 29th Jun 2024
A two-year project has launched by researchers across the South West and South Wales in a bid to come up with new and innovative way to retrofit houses, and make them more eco-friendly in the future.
The researchers, from the GW4 Alliance of Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and Exeter, are set to work with industry, community groups, and local authorities, as part of the 'Beyond Net Zero' liveable homes scheme.
It's part of the Green Transition Ecosystem Awards which will see the teams co-design energy efficient and low-carbon housing 'fit for the future'.
They've been handed £4.6 million from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for the scheme, which is hoped to address 'key challenges' posed by the climate crisis.
The cash is part of the £25 million Future Observatory: Design the Green Transition programme, funded by the AHRC and delivered in partnership with the Design Museum.
According to the University of Bristol, the housing sector alone is responsible for around a fifth of the UK's total carbon emissions.
They add 80% of the houses that will be occupied by 2050 have already been built, which means retrofitting projects will be needed to upgrade the current housing stock to improve their energy efficiency and to reduce carbon emissions.
With the latest round of funding, the researchers from the GW4 Alliance will be designing, testing, implementing and monitoring prototype bio-based solutions - comparing how they work compared to traditional synthetic materials - with the goal of making something that's scalable and transferable.
They'll also be implementing these designs into a 'small number' of 1920s-1940s houses in Swansea and Bristol.
These brick-built houses account for about 1.1 million of the homes seen in the UK today, and, according to the universities, one of the more challenging styles of homes to retrofit.
'Putting local communities at the forefront'
Eleni Toumpanaki, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Bristol said: "To tackle climate change and fuel poverty, a multidisciplinary approach is required by connecting environmental, social and technical sciences and putting local communities at the forefront of the decisions.
"Training and upskilling current and future generations are critical for beyond net zero solutions. I am excited to be part of a wide and diverse community that addresses the key current challenge of energy retrofit of the existing building stock through a holistic approach and by focusing on bio-based materials."
Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan said: “Today’s £4.6 million funds – backed with Government funding – will be a key contribution towards helping cut emissions and making homes more energy efficient.
“By testing different renewable resources to help keep homes warm and save households money on their energy bills, this project will further support our ambition to cut energy demand by 15% by 2030.
“And by working closely with communities, the project will also help ensure that local views and experiences are front and centre in our transition to a cleaner, more secure energy system.”
'We need to create comfortable, liveable homes'
Professor Pete Walker at the University of Bath, and project lead, said: “It is not enough to simply implement design solutions, we need to create comfortable liveable homes that are resilient to climate change and will withstand future weather events.
"Our design process will embed community participation at its centre by creating spaces for co-developing knowledge, sharing experiences, and reshaping designs for Beyond Net Zero homes.
“Our innovative solutions will use bio-based and non-extractive materials together with renewable energy supply and storage. We will explore the impact of these materials not only on achieving Net Zero design but also the potential impact on residents' comfort and wellbeing.”
Professor Jo Patterson at Cardiff University added: “This project evolved from a GW4 research community, and would not have been possible without the support of the GW4 Alliance. I am excited to be part of a team that will expand on that research, working with colleagues across the alliance and alongside new regional partners to transform existing housing by working with, and for, communities.”
Retrofitting existing houses is an infrastructure priority for the UK Government, however, if it's implemented poorly, it can lead to problems with damp and mold, and poor design can cause damage to building fabric and cultural heritage.
At the moment, retrofitting relies heavily on the use of synthetic and non-renewable materials which can cause a negative impact on the environment.
Sometimes, the emissions produced during retrofitting can exceed the carbon savings of a reduction in the use of energy.
The project will run for 24 months.