Part of the BRE Trust

Greener Homes for RedbridgeRichard Hartless

Scope of talk

• Project partners and description

• Adaptation of the Code for Sustainable Homes

• Refurbishment and Code specifications

• Physical monitoring

• Example results

• Summary of findings

Project partners and description• ETHG has funding from London Borough of Redbridge

to:– purchase and refurbish 20 dwellings to higher sustainability levels than

current ‘Decent Homes’ standard – allocate these to homeless people in the borough

• BRE provided technical support in specifying a highly sustainable refurbishment standard for the dwellings

Refurbishment standard

• Partnership workshop at BRE in Summer 2009 to:– agree basis for refurbishment standard è Adapted Code for

Sustainable Homes– Trial SAP and Code assessments on some of houses– Agree aspirational performance targets for energy efficiency, water etc.

as well as overall Code level– Procedure for physical monitoring pre and post-refurbishment– Opportunities for monitoring post-occupancy behaviour

Application of Code for Sustainable Homes

Refurbishment specification

Physical monitoring

• Before and after to demonstrate impact of measures:– Airtightness (with smoke pencil tests)– Infra red camera– Spot measurements of T, RH and ventilation– IAQ (Formaldehyde, Total VOCs and CO)– Water audit (tap and shower flows, WC types etc.)

• Individual reports prepared for each property:– Airtightness measurements used in SAP– Leakage and IR pictures guide refurbishment

• Funded by NHBC Foundation, BRE Trust and water companies

Decent Homes Plus refurbishment – 1950s Semi

• Significant air leakage:– Loft hatch– Holes in floor and ceiling– Decommissioned warm air c/h

system– Bathroom service pipes

9.7°C

18.2°C

10

12

14

16

18

SP01

• Uniform heat loss:– Cold air leaking up from floor

void– Loss at eaves– Cold air in from window

casements

Decent Homes Plus refurbishment – 1950s Semi

• Still air leakage:– Gaps around boards– Gaps around service

pipes

• Still heat loss:– Walls not improved– Cold air ingress– But: warm ceiling!

-5.1°C

7.4°C

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

SP01

• Improvements:– Loft insulation (0.16)– 100% CFLs

Highly sustainable refurbishment – 1930s End terrace

• Significant air leakage:– Crack in bay window– Window casements– Ceiling and floor

• Uniform heat loss:– Cold air leaking up from floor

void– Loss at eaves– Loss in front bay

8.3°C

18.5°C

10

12

14

16

18

SP01

Highly sustainable refurbishment – 1930s End terrace

• Reduced air leakage:– Most floor gaps filled– Still gaps around window

casements

• Reduced heat loss:– Still some wall heat loss– Some cold air ingress at

windows– Cold floor

• Improvements:– Loft + int. wall insulation– Improved heating– 100% CFL– Solar thermal and PV– Low-flow taps

1.9°C

13.9°C

2

4

6

8

10

12

SP01

Summary of findings

Decent Homes Plus refurbishment

Highly sustainable refurbishment

• Airtightness not improved, but heat loss reduced slightly

• Improved from Band F to Band D

• 23% reduction in CO2emissions, which is good but is below long-term government targets

• Airtightness improved and heat loss reduced considerably

• Improved from Band F to Band B

• 82% reduction in CO2emissions, in line with government targets

Cost of refurbishment

Cost of environmental works vs CO2 reduction

And finally……

• Project has won three awards:– Architect’s Journal Retrofit Award, in the large scale domestic

building category– Highly Commended Award in the Inside Housing Sustainable

Housing Awards– Retrofit project of the Year Award – Construction News 2011

Part of the BRE Trust

Thank you for listening