Energy efficient fixed appliances and building control systems

Posted on: 29 August 2012
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This primary research report examines the range of energy efficient fixed appliances and building control systems that are either currently available, or are under development and may be available before 2016 and considers how these may be introduced into new homes. The report considers a variety of technologies that would influence the reduction in energy consumption and associated CO2 emissions for a typical home built in 2016, and identifies those that show merit of further investigation by designers, house builders and the wider industry.  Importantly, the research shows that a number of technologies offer significant potential for saving.

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A GBC Guide to the EU Energy Efficiency Directive

Posted on: 22 August 2012
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On 15 June 2012 a new Directive aimed at improving energy efficiency in the EU was agreed. It is expected to help lead a transformation in the energy performance of existing buildings, in the same way as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive recast (EPBD) is leading the transformation for new buildings. It replaces the CHP Directive (2004/8/EC) and the Energy Services Directive (2006/32/EC). This document is intended to help Green Building Councils and their members understand some of the main aspects of the Directive that will impact on buildings.

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Dealing green: Options for registered providers

Posted on: 3 August 2012
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Sustainable Homes was commissioned to prepared this report on the Green Deal. It is written with registered providers in mind, but local authorities who own or manage their own stock may also find the content useful.

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Common concerns about wind power

Posted on: 3 August 2012
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The Centre for Sustainable Energy hosted a free webinar on 31 July which covered the myths and realities about wind power, as covered in its publication Common concerns about wind power. Presented by the report’s author and independent science writer, Iain Cox, from his home in Texas, it had CSE’s technical expert Martin Holley on hand to give a UK perspective and was hosted by CSE’s James Watt. The webinar consisted of a 30 minute talk covering the main issues, followed by a 15 minute Q&A.

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Funding low carbon cities: Mapping the risks and opportunities

Posted on: 3 August 2012
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The Centre for Low Carbon Futures has published a report in its Climate Smart Cities programme. The objective of the paper is to provide a contemporary account of how UK local authorities might approach the question of how to ensure the funding of retrofits and investments in low carbon options, with a particular focus on the major obstacles that need to be overcome and the key financial and non-financial risks that need to be managed.

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Guidance to English Energy Conservation Authorities issued pursuant to the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995

Posted on: 30 July 2012
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New guidance to help local authorities in England improve the energy efficiency of their residential housing has been published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The guidance, issued under the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA), asks local authorities to publish a report on their plans to achieve improved energy efficiency by 31 March 2013. Local authorities will be required to identify practicable and cost-effective measures likely to result in significant energy reduction in all residential accommodation in their area. The guidance also asks local authorities to consider the role key local partners, such as social housing providers and community organisations, can play in supporting their plans. The Green Deal, which allows the cost of new energy efficiency measures to be attached to a building’s electricity meter, will be significant in helping local authorities to achieve their aims.

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Retrofitting district heating systems: Creating replicable retrofit models in Hackbridge

Posted on: 20 July 2012
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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.

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Investigation into overheating in homes: Literature review

Posted on: 20 July 2012
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This literature review focuses on three main areas: whether overheating is occurring in new dwellings, in existing dwellings and whether or not retrofitting/refurbishing existing dwellings is likely to increase the risk of overheating. The review has been carried out on behalf of Government by a consortium led by AECOM, and supported by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and University College London. A second output from this work is an Analysis of Gaps and Recommendations  report identifying the main gaps in the literature, and areas where further work might be of most value.

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Towards Green Growth in Denmark: Improving energy and climate change policies

Posted on: 17 July 2012
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Denmark’s green growth strategy focuses on moving the energy system away from fossil fuels and investing in green technologies, while limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. On the whole, current policies should allow Denmark to reach near-term climate change targets, but may not be sufficient to achieve its most ambitious targets. The challenge is to achieve objectives in a cost-effective manner and to ensure that these ambitions contribute as much as possible to global GHG emissions mitigation and to stronger and greener growth in Denmark. Better exploiting interactions with EU and international policies, finding the appropriate way to support green technologies and reducing GHG emissions in sectors not covered by the EU emission trading scheme are key issues which need to be addressed to meet this challenge.

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Legal frameworks for sustainable energy infrastructure

Posted on: 13 July 2012
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A new report from the UK Green Building Council has set out to clarify the legal process for creating community-scale heating and energy schemes, such as district heating and heat networks. The aim is to encourage more local authorities to integrate these schemes into new and existing developments. The report is the culmination of a UK Green Building Council Task Group which brought together a cross-section of industry experts, including developers, energy providers, local authorities and other stakeholders, to identify ways to help anyone trying to implement community-scale energy infrastructure projects. It simplifies the complex legal landscape that often forms a barrier to such schemes progressing.

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