elementalLONDON’s Post

Data driven retrofit strategy and implementation…great work from the UK that could perhaps help begin to fill the void in retrofit policy here in New Zealand…how do we retrofit our poorly performing just finished new buildings and those that are worse performing older buildings to meet a number of demands from affordability, lower emissions, fuel poverty, labour and skills constraints, etc….what is the best optimised approach to deliver the most benefit between the various available approaches, demolish and build new <-> lite-retrofit <-> tiered retrofit <-> deep retrofit…and how are the disruptive technologies of heat pumps, solar PV w/w/o batteries (batteries w/wo wheels) applied? I included EVs in the above as I understand one of NZ’s major social housing provides is surprised at the number of tenants with vehicles that are using EVs.

'An Edwardian-era social housing estate in Chelsea, central London, is the latest ‘complex to decarbonise’ building to get the renewable heating treatment, successfully busting myths about whether heat pumps can work for old and existing buildings. The Sutton Dwellings estate, built in 1913, has seen 81 flats across four blocks fitted with British-made ground source heat pumps, making these the oldest blocks of social housing flats in the UK so far to be heated using a networked heat pump solution. This unique project is part of an extensive regeneration of the estate by housing provider Clarion Housing, which started in 2019. In this phase, each new, modern social home has received highly energy-efficient heating and hot water via its own compact ground source heat pump, that will keep energy bills low for residents while producing zero carbon emissions at the point of use. Like traditional gas boilers, the heat pumps are small enough to be housed inside a cupboard in each flat. However, unlike gas, renewable heat energy used by the heat pump is sourced from the ground via the 27 boreholes drilled deep beneath the estate’s tight, urban footprint. This method ensures there’s no visible impact on the historic property’s traditional red-brick exterior and allows residents to fully enjoy the landscaped outside spaces around each block. "While this can be seen as a great myth-busting project for renewable heating, particularly ground source heat pumps, the most important outcome will be the benefits felt by residents. With our systems they will be getting low cost, low carbon heating and hot water, allowing them to keep their whole homes warm." ' Sharing our news via MadeInBritain.org Image credit: Made In Britain . . . #heatpumps #conservationnews #goodnewsnetwork

Decarbonising Community Housing at Scale 🏘️🔋   Urbis is proud to announce the completion of two ground-breaking reports for the Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) on the decarbonisation of the community housing sector. These reports provide a comprehensive analysis of the costs, benefits, and challenges of transitioning community housing properties towards a net zero future.   Our team meticulously analysed over 46,000 community housing properties across 17 climate zones and 9 key property typologies – identifying decarbonisation retrofit intervention options, and the sequencing, impacts and costs per property type. The key benefits identified include: • significant carbon emissions reductions,  • enhancing social value,  • cost savings for tenants,  • improved tenant health and wellbeing, and • contributions to NSW's Net Zero targets. New South Wales is at the forefront of energy transition, and these reports will serve as a vital guide for community housing organisations to play a pivotal role in this journey. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CHIA NSW to build awareness, and highlight the importance of decarbonisation across the community sector. Learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gx4ihH8P #Decarbonisation #NetZero #CommunityHousing #Sustainability #CityShaper Brenton Reynolds, Richard Gibbs, Poppy Wise, Dianne Knott, Ryan Bondfield, Sabina Krslovic

We’re definitely not NIMBYs! We need more homes, and they need to be sustainable. 🏡🌱 Great article that highlights that the UK public wants more sustainable, community-focused local developments that actually fit into their neighbourhoods. It is clear people care about the quality of housing just as much as the quantity. The Future Homes Standard can’t come soon enough.⏰ Let’s make sure we’re building homes that are not just good for today but also good for the planet, and the heat pump industry is ready to help make this happen! 🌍💚 https://lnkd.in/eVeAxHqD #SustainableHousing #SustainableHomes #FutureHomesStandard #Renewables #Housing #Neighbourhoods #Communities #HomeBuilding

The problem - housing. The solution - multi layered. But let's explore one thought that has been in my head for quite a while. I like win-wins - and this thought has the potential for at least two more. Decarbonisation. Wales and the West Housing Association built a new housing estate in Bridgend in 2018. The press release announcing these zero carbon homes had a footnote - householders in these homes would pay around 90% less for their utility bills. A chat with Monmouthshire Housing Association confirmed it - a two bedroom zero carbon home outside Monmouth would have its utility costs capped at £254 annually. I discovered this as former PM Rich Sunak was celebrating capping utility bills at £2,000 per annum. Could this be true - could decarbonising a home generate these massive savings? What if the certainty of costs provided here be sufficient to kick start the housing market? What if a tranche of young people be trained to retrofit the existing housing stock (a colleague in Welsh Government suggested it was possible to save between 60 and 70 per cent with interventions like double glazing, a heat pump, deep loft insulation and crucially a smart meter so residents could monitor their activities and adapt lifestyles accordingly). My profile says I'm a big thinker and available for thinking. It also mentions my two favourite questions - So What and What if? Any CEOs up for piloting this? It could be a game changer. Paul Matthews Duncan Forbes Then again, it could be nonsense. Malcolm D. Darren Hatton Frances Beecher Sam Austin Iwan Trefor Jones Huw Maguire repa antonio David Warren Derek Walker Jane Davidson Calvin Jones Andy Middleton Nick Miller Sarah Dickins Andy Rees PhD, OBE Cerys Jones Phoebe Brown Ella Smillie Dawn Lyle Dr Eurgain Powell

Great to see a more systems based approach to energy in buildings being advocated to get to net zero - a combination of insulation, heat pumps, solar & heat networks here.

Although targets may not be met by 2026, it's encouraging to see the progress in constructing low-carbon homes in Wales. Building quality homes that are sustainable for the future is crucial to reduce embodied carbon emissions. Labour's ambitious goal of constructing 1.5 million homes in the next 4 years highlights the need for a shift towards sustainable materials. Continuing to rely on materials like uPVC could result in sustainability challenges down the line, echoing the current concerns. Embracing change is essential. If we persist in our current practices, we will likely encounter the same obstacles. It's time to prioritise sustainability in construction to pave the way for a greener future. https://lnkd.in/er_AQJQz. #Sustainability #Construction #LowCarbonHomes #FutureReady #BuildingQuality #Wales

Thanks to Nationwide Building Society for inviting me to speak at their Green Homes Action Group on decarbonising homes today (alongside colleagues from L&Q and Clarion). We talked through the housing association sector journey to net-zero so far, and importantly what policy mechanisms we need from government in order to break down the barriers to retrofitting the nation’s social homes. Housing association progress on retrofitting homes is impressive and rollout of clean heat sources is increasing. Almost three quarters of housing association homes are at the right energy efficiency level (or better). But to retrofit the remaining 28% of homes by 2030 to the right standard we must double the pace of retrofit. Housing association homes also lead the way on clean heat sources across rented homes; but as a country there are only 1% of homes in England with a heat pump (the Climate Change Committee estimates we need 10% of homes in England to have a heat pump by 2028 if we're to stay on track to decarbonising homes by 2050). So... impressive progress so far, but still lots to do and housing associations can't do this alone. To change gear it is vital to work in partnership with government to ensure policy, funding, skills and supply chain certainty. Our call for a renewal of social housing includes shorter terms asks around funding and policy certainty, as well as the need for longer term retrofit funding and funding for clean heat. For example, the National Infrastructure Commission (who advise the government on infrastructure needs) suggest that the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund should deliver £5.1bn for the social housing sector between 2024 - 2030 (approx £1bn for fabric retrofit measures to homes). In addition to this it suggests that £33.8bn is allocated between 2024 and 2050 to deliver low carbon heat in the social housing sector.

Three of my favorite topics in one article! Excited to see the focus on social housing, sustainability in construction, and The North West in this insightful piece. Highlighting the importance of increased social housing, integrating sustainability in home construction is paramount for a greener future. Check out the article to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eNeN_hmH. #SustainableHomes #SocialHousing #NorthWest 🌱🏡

Since 2020, Brisbane’s population has grown at more than double the rate of Melbourne and Sydney, putting pressure on the state's infrastructure. The debate between building up in established areas versus expanding into new regions has significant implications for the future of the city's transport, utilities, and public services. Our article addresses the infrastructure costs and benefits associated with different development strategies, providing crucial insights for those shaping Brisbane’s future.  https://lnkd.in/gpAraj7J #Infrastructure #UrbanGrowth #BrisbaneHousing