Energy modelling to support local authorities in the transition towards greater energy efficiency of building stock: a case study in north London

Panel: 3. Local action and national examples

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Mark Jennings, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Luis Munuera, Imperial College of Science and Technology, United Kingdom
Minka McInerney, Haringey Council, United Kingdom

Abstract

Local governments in the UK have been increasingly engaged with the idea of improving the energy efficiency of their existing building stock. This can be confirmed by recent growth in local action plans and strategies across the country [1]. In North London, Haringey Borough council has set itself the challenge of reducing 2020 borough-wide Carbon emissions by 40% relative to a 2005 baseline.

The council has identified several potential financing models to achieve large-scale retrofit at a local level. A number of decisions need to be made in the short-term that will impact the long-term achievement of this 2020 goal. Chief amongst these decisions are both the financing structures for funding low-carbon supply and demand side interventions and the accurate pricing of these works [2].

To support such decisions, a mathematical programming tool of Haringey’s existing energy systems has been developed. The ca. 92,000 households are modelled using an innovative integrated energy systems approach [3] with high temporal and spatial resolution and using rich metered data from technology field trials. The program models investments in new supply-side and demand-side interventions under current and planned policy between 2013-20.

The energy and CO2 performance of various low carbon strategies are assessed against the possible financial models for Haringey council. Results show mathematical programming tailored to local authorities can effectively support the financial planning and rollout of low carbon retrofits.

1. RICS (2011) Hotting up? Low carbon analysis of UK cities. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

2. Jennings, M., Shah, N., Fisk, D. Optimising the arrangement of finance towards large scale refurbishment of housing stock. In: ECOS 2012

3. Keirstead J, Calderon C, (2012). Capturing spatial effects, technology interactions, and uncertainty in urban energy and carbon models: Retrofitting Newcastle as a case-study. Energy Policy, in press