Retrofitting district heating systems: Creating replicable retrofit models in Hackbridge

Tweet

Posted on: 20 July 2012
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

District heating networks are being planned across the country in most instances these will only supply new buildings. This study investigated whether connecting our existing buildings to these networks would be a better route to carbon saving than extensive energy efficiency retrofitting. The study is based on connecting district heating to flats, but the approach can be applied to other building types. The study found that district heating (using a variety of heat sources) achieved considerably more carbon emission savings than the full traditional retrofit option (whereby a building’s energy efficiency is improved by improving the building fabric and installing energy efficient or renewable sources of heat and electricity in the building itself) and at a lower cost. Unlike the district heating approach, however, traditional retrofit tackles other issues such as fuel poverty and thermal comfort. These were important considerations for the residents surveyed who, whilst in favour of both approaches, would prioritise the retrofit.

Read more online