9 September 2020 | 5 minutes read

As seen on Housing Digital here

 

A ‘greener home’ can improve our health and finances, boost the economy, job market, and help to tackle climate change.

Looking at the most recent Energy Performance of Buildings report from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the energy efficiency ratings (EER) and the environmental impact rating (EIR) for existing and new domestic properties figures show a vast disparity between the performance of new build and existing homes.

Cobalt manages around 6000 properties; many of which were built during the 1950s-60s, a time when proportions for family living were often at the forefront of design, and environmental performance wasn’t so well considered. We are not alone; across the UK, millions of homes categorised as ‘social housing’ by the ONS have a date of build pre-1970, with the number of ‘affordable homes’ (Local Authority and Housing Association owned) being built each year are in decline since the peak at the end of the 1960s.

Over the past few years housing associations are turning their focus to a ‘retrofit’ of these homes – this sector buzzword covers a wide variety of home energy improvements. Structurally the homes are sound, but each one needs analysis to understand where they need to be upgraded to bring them up to ‘new-build’ standard efficiency.

At Cobalt, we are currently reviewing a new software system which will use the data we hold on our properties such as EPC and stock condition data to provide us with a more detailed overall picture for our properties, helping us to target retrofit projects across the stock.

We have also started to carry out 3D scans and thermal surveys on some of our homes. Information from these surveys will provide us with a detailed plan of the properties, mapping any hot or cold spots, and will help us understand the buildings’ energy efficiency performance. We will use this information to determine if our properties require additional energy efficiency measures, in addition to works that have already been completed.

We are working closely with Liverpool John Moores University as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) the aim of which is to identify innovative technology that could improve the energy efficiency of our homes. An example of this is a robot that can spray underfloor insulation in properties that have suspended floors which eliminates any disruption to install this measure and has improved thermal efficiency compared to standard underfloor insulation.

What is clear is that with the government’s target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the vast number of homes requiring an ‘environmental reboot’ through retrofit will play a fundamental part in the success, or failure, of achieving this goal, particularly when residential housing is responsible for 22% of all UK emissions (if emissions from consumed electricity are included), and social housing contributes 10% of this.

Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is a key priority for Cobalt, not only to support environmental targets, but also to help to reduce utility bills and improve the overall health of tenants and residents.

Recent examples of housing associations’ eco-developments have shown that carbon neutral homes not only minimise utility bills (this example in Norwich claims that annual bills should be as little as £150 for residents), but also improve tenants’ wellbeing and mental health.

The technology available for retrofitting existing properties is developing daily, and we are investigating innovative solutions from around the world which can be installed in a matter of weeks with minimal disruption to the tenant. We have seen sector peers experimenting with new thermally efficient wall ‘wrappers’ created with prefabricated panels manufactured offsite, Photo-voltaic (’PV’) heaters built into a thermally-insulated roof that also generate electricity, Air source or ground source heating, and even the removal of gas to create an electricity-only property.

But this technology comes at a cost – a recent report by Raven Housing Trust based in the South indicated that the cost of retrofitting their existing stock would cost approximately £20,000 per property, this based on their already not-poorly-performing homes.

However, the payback from investment in retrofitting existing homes would not only help to achieve government carbon targets and reduce utility bills for tenants, but also provide a much needed boost for the UK’s construction industry which could be fundamental in the post-COVID recovery, particularly for employment opportunities.

It is positive to see the recent announcement from the government on a new funding programme for social rent which puts social and affordable rent on an equal footing with affordable homeownership, supporting the build of homes for those on the lowest incomes such as key workers. Following the COVID pandemic, the Green Homes Grant funding has also been brought forward to help private owners, private landlords and social landlords improve the energy efficiency of properties.

This isn’t a change that will happen overnight, but the demand for social housing is at a record high (charity ‘Shelter’ estimates we need to deliver 3.1 million more social homes over the next 20 years) , the turnover of Cobalt homes is at an all-time low, and we need to ensure that new and existing homes are as efficient as possible. We have a real opportunity for change that could benefit our tenants, the economy and the environment, and we’re really excited to be involved in a range of potential projects that could really improve lives, long-term.

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