retrofit

Housing associations face two highly important retrofit challenges. One is to bring about the decarbonisation of the UK’s social housing stock as part of the battle against climate change, the other is to make their homes more energy efficient and, thus, more affordable for residents. Stewart Little, CEO of IRT Surveys, explains how social housing associations can make smart retrofit decisions to guide them on their path to decarbonisation and energy efficiency.

There are two forces driving energy efficiency within social housing. The most pressing is climate change. With the Climate Clock  predicting that, at the current rate of emissions, the 1.5°C rise in temperature will be surpassed in 2032, there is an existential need to make the UK’s housing stock more sustainable. If this is not achieved by 2050, it is predicted that housing will be responsible for 95% of the UK’s built-environment emissions.

The specialist area advises on insulation for both new build and retrofit projects

Stone wool insulation manufacturer, ROCKWOOL has bolstered its technical resources, with a new Social Housing Resource Hub. The hub makes it easier for specifiers to access the latest information and advice on specialist insulation solutions for social housing, helping them create comfortable and safe properties that improve the lives of residents.  

The new Social Housing Resource Hub brings a wealth of technical information into one place giving stakeholders access to product data and benefits, case studies and direct links to further helpful resources at their fingertips.

Adequate ventilation is of crucial importance to the overall maintenance and protection of your property and its inhabitants.

The build-up of condensation within the roof space remains an issue as the industry moves towards more energy efficient buildings.  For many homeowners, the big consideration when it comes to energy saving is insulation. Whilst this is an important aspect for keeping your house warm and reducing energy costs, the need for roof ventilation should not be neglected as this could lead to serious and indeed costly repercussions.

By ensuring you have an adequate level of roof ventilation in your roof you can make significant strides towards preventing the build-up of condensation and the associated problems of damp that this causes.

The United Kingdom has the oldest and leakiest housing stock in Europe, with almost 38% of our homes dating from 1946 or before . One of the biggest challenges we therefore face as a nation is how to improve the energy performance of existing buildings. The answer lies in innovative approaches to retrofit, and with a new and exclusive Whole House Retrofit Zone, Futurebuild 2020 will be the go-to destination for all the latest thinking and opportunities in this field.

Refurbishing (or ‘retrofitting’) refers to the regeneration of buildings to reduce energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

The latest report on delivery of home adaptation provision maintains ‘the overarching aim’ is for it to be accessible and timely.