Deep low-carbon refurbishment challenge: what hasn’t worked as designed?

Panel: 5. Energy use in buildings: projects, technologies and innovation

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Author:
Marina Topouzi, ECI-CREDS, University of Oxford - Environmental Change Institute, United Kingdom

Abstract

Whilst building regulations standards become more stringent to meet UK Government ambitious reduction targets by 2050, low-carbon solutions in building stock refurbishment do not always perform as design intended. Considering this, and given that there is still little evidence on deep refurbishments that implement low-carbon ‘whole house’ approaches in the UK, this paper presents evidence on the implementation, installation and use, using a sample of 26 deep retrofitted social houses. The paper explores what has (or has not) been implemented as intended /designed discussing the failures and successes emerged under the lens of effectiveness in delivery, performance, occupants satisfaction and control interaction with the low-carbon building system. Using interdisciplinary methodological approach technical and non-technical factors are examined through a detailed analysis of the quantitative and qualitative empirical data. The overall performance in-use is discussed in relation to the initial refurbishment delivery goals. The findings reveal issues correlated to knowledge, skills, communication and quality of installation of the low-carbon interventions and how these affect occupants’ interaction and control behaviour. By recognizing the importance to provide higher standards in installation of the new measures improving quality controls in the implementation, the research outlines key messages and recommendations to different sectors (policymakers, researchers, implementers, supply chain and users) that are involved in social housing refurbishment programmes.