You are here : Home » Other » Eco Guidance » EcoScope » Cambridge retrofit will influence future schemes

Cambridge retrofit will influence future schemes

1 Comment
Posted on August 9, 2010 by ecoadmin 

Significant reduction in energy consumption

Leading architectural practice PRP, has designed a whole house retrofit solution at 31 Byron Square in Cambridge. The project was completed in conjunction with Cambridge City Council, which owns the property and contractor Hill Partnerships.

A three-bedroom, semi detached property it has undergone a complete low carbon retrofit to significantly reduce its energy consumption and carbon emissions through using innovative materials and technologies. The project also highlighted some key challenges which need to be addressed in future retrofit projects, such as delivery issues and funding.

The dwelling is a 1940′s steel frame house now achieves an Energy Performance ‘A’ Rating. The solution maximises the thermal performance of the fabric and significantly reduces the reliance on fossil fuels.

The project is part of the Technology Strategy Board’s national Retrofit for the Future programme, Cambridge University’s Energy Department is undertaking extensive analysis on a range of social issues including the effect of occupancy numbers on energy consumption, and the Energy Savings Trust is undertaking environmental and social monitoring of the house over the next two years, so that findings from projects such as this can influence future retrofit solutions.

Retrofit is an area which is enjoying renewed interest since the Government pledged to cut 80% of UK carbon emissions by 2050. Domestic emissions from residential buildings will need to be cut by 29% over the next ten years if the Government is going to meet these targets.

The 31 Byron Square project is a pilot to test various retrofit methods and technologies, prior to being rolled out on a larger scale. It’s retrofit includes the following innovative solutions:

  • Photovoltaics and solar thermal panels in matching frames
  • Aerogel insulated drylining
  • Triple glazed windows with thermal control layer
  • Full LED lighting
  • Flue gas heat recovery
  • Waste water heat recovery system
  • Low-energy decentralised whole house ventilation
  • Energy display system – interactive touch screen interface for education and awareness

Andrew Mellor, PRP’s Environmental Director, says: “PRP’s aim was to develop an energy reduction solution that was innovative yet replicable and economically viable. It’s important that we try to resolve the lessons learnt through 31 Byron Square as we need to start the mass retrofit revolution very soon.

“Early consideration on how to solve delivery issues along with funding, incentives, resident awareness and quality control is imperative. PRP recommend a ‘Retrofit Roadmap’ to ensure that industry knowledge is shared and research is not wasted. Retrofit cannot be ignored as all homes in the UK may need to be near zero carbon by 2050, in order to meet the Government’s targets.”

More information: www.prparchitects.co.uk

Rating 3.00 out of 5

This entry was posted in EcoScope, Homes and tagged , , , ,


One Response to “Cambridge retrofit will influence future schemes”

  1. ecoadmin says:

    August 9th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
     

    David Bott, Director of Innovation Programmes at the Technology Strategy Board, says: “We are delighted to see the completion of this project under our nationwide Retrofit for the Future programme. It is a great example of how the initiative has seen the retrofit market come together, with social landlords, local councils, architects and other specialist suppliers developing a range of high performance and cost effective prototype solutions.”

Reply