Paula Vandergert - Raising awareness in sustainable renovation - UK experiences

TRANSITIONING TOWARDS URBAN RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Raising public awareness in sustainable renovation – UK experiences

Dr Paula VandergertSustainability Research InstituteUniversity of East London


TRANSITIONING TOWARDS URBAN RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY - TURAS

TURAS brings urban communities and businesses together with local authorities andresearchers to collaborate on developing practical new solutions for more sustainableand resilient European cities.

Issues addressed include climate change adaptation and mitigation, natural resource shortage, urban sprawl, green infrastructure, short-circuit economies and community participation in areas such as temporary usage of derelict sites and buildings.


DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

Creative industries

Green business models

Urban agriculture

PSS

Eco-design Clean

Tech

SustainableLocal

Ec Env

Soc

Other sustainable businesses

Urban communities identify need

Sustainable solutions identified that bring local

social, environmental and economic value

SHORT CIRCUIT ECONOMIES


SUSTAINABLE REFURBISHMENT – STIMULATING DEMAND AND SUPPLY

STRATEGIC APPROACHDELIVERY ON THE GROUND

DEMANDSUPPLY CHAIN

GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES


KEY FACTS ABOUT UK ENERGY AND HOMES

First country to introduce a legal carbon reduction target – 80% reduction by 2050 (on 1990 levels) 26 million homes in the UK 80% of housing stock is in private ownership, 70% are owner-occupiers Only 20% of housing stock was built after 1976, 20% before 1919 Very slow replacement rate – aiming to build 100,000 new homes a year This means that by 2050 at least 70% of homes will be those that are already built nowMain fuel type used in homes is natural gasIncreasing numbers of families are falling into fuel poverty (at least 10% of net income is spent on domestic energy) Pre-1976 homes in particular leak energy A large percentage of homes are hard to treat – no cavity wall, leak heat through roofs, walls, windows, planning restrictions etc


ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY SECTOR IN THE UK 2011

industry20%

transport 40%

domestic 28%

other 12%


DOMESTIC ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY USE 2011

space heating60%water

18%

cooking3%

lighting and ap-pliances

19%


TRANSPORT ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY USE 2011

rail2%

road - passenger47%

road - freight24%

air24%

water3%


KEY THEMES

Whole life / whole houseFinancial incentives to encourage private tenures to actWork at spatial scale that will deliver most effective changeSustainability beyond energy and carbonDesign principles to embed from startBehaviour change needs to be understoodMeasurement and post occupancy evaluation is key to demonstration projectsCase studies provide learning and spread interestAdaptation as well as mitigationSkills required and opportunities for local developmentSocial justice – tackle poor quality housing and fuel poverty


ENGAGING LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND HOUSEHOLDS

Superhomes network - physical fabricTransition Streets – public engagement and behaviour changeLow Energy Buildings database / TSB Retrofit for the Future Kirklees Warm Zone scheme

The importance of networks and case studies

http://www.superhomes.org.uk/

http://www.transitionstreets.org.uk/about/

http://retrofitforthefuture.org/viewproject.php?id=24










1. Get an assessment of your property to see what improvements you can make and how much you could save on your energy bills.

2. Choose a Green Deal provider to carry out the work. You discuss with them what work you want done and whether the Green Deal is right for you.

3. If you go ahead with the improvements you must sign your Green Deal Plan - this is a contract between you and the provider stating what work will be done and how much it will cost. The provider will then arrange for a Green Deal installer to do the work.

4. Once the work is done, you’ll pay off the money in instalments through your electricity bill.

GREEN DEAL


‘GREEN DEAL ‘GOLDEN RULE’

.You’ll pay the money back through your electricity bill. Amount you pay back should equal the amount you save through reduced energy use over 25 years.Loan plus interest (7%). Debt stays with the property.


RESEARCH INTO MOTIVATIONS

What are the triggers to engage people in sustainable refurbishment?What are the reasons for not wanting to do it?We’re starting to build a picture based on consumer research carried out for the government, academic research and project evaluations.


GREEN DEAL – PUBLIC APPETITE MARKET RESEARCH

“My major concern is value for money. ..the people who use

this scheme will pay a far greater price than householders who have the means to pay the

upfront cost.”

Homeowner, no dependents, low income, detached/ semi-detached 1919-1980 property,

Bridgend

“My God that’s a lot of work for such a little saving.”

Homeowner, pre-family, low income, detached/semi- detached post-1980 property, Morpeth

Source: Consumer Needs and Wants for the Green Deal, Ipsos Mori, 2011 for DECC


GREEN DEAL – PUBLIC APPETITE MARKET RESEARCH

Source: Consumer Needs and Wants for the Green Deal, Ipsos Mori, 2011 for DECC

Participants mentioned the following events as key moments at which they would be most interested in the Green Deal:

o the point of purchase of a new property, particularly a long-term investment; o a major renovation or refurbishment of a property; o the replacement of a boiler or heating system; or o the period moving towards retirement and a fixed income.


RESEARCH INTO MOTIVATIONS

Source: Green deal or no deal Building customer confidence in energy efficiency services, Liz Lainé for Consumer Focus, 2011


COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO EXTREME WEATHER (CREW)

Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW) was an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)-funded research project undertaken by a consortium of 14 universities. It’s aim was to develop a set of tools for improving the capacity for resilience of local communities to the impacts of current and future extreme weather events.

A retrofit web tool was developed by researchers at De Montfort University that offers guidance when choosing retrofit adaptations to reduce dwelling overheating during heat wave periods, whilst also considering the effect on annual heating energy use and cost.


COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO EXTREME WEATHER (CREW)

Source: Adapting Dwellings to Climate Change retrofit advice tool. Porritt et al, 2011. Web-based tool available at http://www.iesd.dmu.ac.uk/crew


SUBURBAN NEIGHBOURHOOD ADAPTATION FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE (SNACC)

Led by University of the West of England, Oxford Brookes University and Heriot Watt UniversityResearched effective adaptation measures in 6 suburban neighbourhoods in 3 cities in EnglandAim was to identify successful climate adaptation and mitigation measures:

those that perform well technically (i.e. they protect people and property from climate change impacts and mitigate against further climate change)

and those that are the most practical and acceptable for people to implement



Source: Williams et al, 2012. Suburban Neighbourhood Adaptation for a Changing Climate(SNACC) Final Report, University of the West of England, Oxford Brookes University and Heriot-Watt University







Reasons for being likely to choose an adaptation measure• Inexpensive• Convenient to install (i.e. DIY)• Looks attractive• Lifestyle benefits (enjoyable, reduces noise)• Provides energy cost-savings• Environmentally friendly (reduces carbon emissions)• Improves current climate comfort• Is more efficient• Potential for financial support (grants and subsidies)• Could be done easily with other home renovations

Reasons for being less likely to choose an adaptation measure• Too expensive as initial cost• Major building works required• Bulky and unattractive• Potential damage to property from measure• Loss of house space• Inappropriate housing orientation for measure• Lack of space or sunlight required for measure• Simpler behavioural alternative

• Requiring external approval



REALITY OF MOTIVATING PUBLIC

oBuilt around 1910oSolid wall brickoSingle glazingoLeasehold flats


DEMONSTRATING BENEFITS

A new report for DECC indicates that making energy saving improvements to a property could increase its value by 14 per cent on average - and up to 38 per cent in some parts of England.

Source: Final Project ReportAn investigation of the effect of EPC ratings on house prices, Fuerst et al, 2013


SUPPORTING LOCAL DELIVERY

ExamplesSevern Wye Energy Agency – charityBuyforGood – social enterpriseGreenBridge – funding for business development




Buy For Good (BFG) awards contracts that have a positive impact on the local economy by:

• Creating jobs and training opportunities in target communities,• Reducing Co2 and the effects of climate change,• Minimising environmental impacts• Supporting the Third Sector• Stimulating Innovation• Creating funding streams that are re-invested locally

The advantage of using BFG to purchasing authorities is:

• Pooled purchasing, leading to better terms with suppliers• Provision of expert purchasing resource, relieving pressure on internal resources• Creating jobs in the locality of the works or supplies• Creating training activity in the locality of the works or supplies• Supporting the third sector• A complimentary suite of contracts with reduced contract management effort



DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Long life loose fit low energyInsulation Air-tightness VentilationWhole life costsWhole house evaluationUser focusedReduce energy demandFabric first, then kit


ENERGY EFFICIENCY …PLUS

Important to understand broader impact and opportunities of energy saving measures:

Opportunities to deliver multiple benefits to residents and local areas – more likely to engage

Beware unintended consequences Importance of whole house / neighbourhood

scale interventions Trusted delivery and engagement – intensive

but can provide social and economic value as well as environmental benefit


THANK YOU

www.turas-cities.eu

Dr Paula VandergertSustainability Research [email protected]

Technology

Paula Vandergert - Raising awareness in sustainable renovation - UK experiences