Low Energy Buildings Database

Compton, Berkshire

This project involves a radical whole house approach to the refurbishment of a 1950s semi detached property. The idea is to upgrade the thermal performance. Our approach to energy saving and CO2 reduction is to follow a lean-clean-green hierarchy: seeking to minimise heat losses from the propertys thermal fabric and ventilation method; to supply residual space and water heating using replicable, low carbon technology; to minimise lighting and appliance energy loads; and finally to consider micro-generation using proven, renewable energy systems.

Construction type	Masonry Cavity	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	Semi-Detached	Sector	Public Residential
Location	Compton Berkshire	Project owner	ECD Architects
Retrofit for the future	ZA343S

Conservation Area retrofit

The project is to retrofit a mid-terrace Victorian house in a Conservation Area. The residents are to be occupation throughout. The proposal is to internally insulate most of the walls with aerogels, with the exception of the ground floor kitchen extension, which will be externally insulated. Air permeability will be improved to 5 m3/m2/hr. The space heating will be provided by an efficient gas boiler. Water heating will be delivered by a solar thermal system with a heat pump recovering heat from an integrated Passive Stack Ventilation system. Electricity will be provided by Solar PV and demand will be reduced by installing energy efficient appliances and low energy lighting.

Construction type	Solid Brick	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	Mid Terrace	Sector	Public Residential
Location	London London	Project owner	Peabody
Retrofit for the future	ZA234Y

Cottage retrofit, Chale Green, Isle of Wight

This project will focus on a dwelling typical for this area and will seek to establish a complementary and replicable set of measures which significantly reduce energy use and CO2 emissions associated with this particular type of property. The measures are intended to be carried out whilst the property remains unoccupied. It is intended that the findings will inform the remainder of SWHAs similar properties, and will also be widely applicable to other social landlords or building owners with similar stock, since there are around 7 million solid-walled properties in the UK.

Construction type	Solid Brick	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	Semi-Detached	Sector	Public Residential
Location	Chale Green Isle of Wight	Project owner	ECD Architects
Retrofit for the future	ZA629H

Crawley Homes Cornish Unit retrofit upgrade

Our chosen approach to energy saving and CO2 reduction in the Cornish unit is to follow a lean-clean-green hierarchy: seeking to minimise heat losses from the property thermal fabric and ventilation method; to supply residual space and water heating using replicable, low carbon technology; to minimise lighting energy loads; and finally to consider micro-generation using proven, renewable energy systems. The package of measures proposed to achieve these targets included external mineral wool insulation, internal Spacetherm insulation, triple-glazed windows and doors, heat recovery ventilation with a retrofit airtightness strategy, low energy lighting, PV and a micro-CHP heating and distribution system.

Construction type	Other	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	End Terrace	Sector	Public Residential
Location	Crawley West Sussex	Project owner	Crawley Borough Council
Retrofit for the future	ZA586R

Crawley New Town retrofit

This property is one of many cavity wall contructed dwellings found in Crawley new town now considered to be traditional . Our chosen approach to energy saving and CO2 reduction is to follow a lean-clean-green hierarchy: seeking to minimise heat losses from the thermal fabric and ventilation method; to supply residual space and water heating using replicable, low carbon technology; to minimise lighting energy loads; and finally to consider micro-generation using proven, renewable energy systems. The package of measures proposed to achieve these targets included aerogel dry-lining insulation, triple-glazed windows and doors, MVHR with a retrofit airtightness strategy, low energy lighting, PV and a micro-CHP heating.

Construction type	Masonry Cavity	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	End Terrace	Sector	Public Residential
Location	Crawley West Sussex	Project owner	Crawley Borough Council
Retrofit for the future	ZA631J

Demonstration of low carbon refurbishment of off-gas homes using Sunergy solar energy system integrated with a prototype heat engine.

This ambitious project will look at low carbon whole house refurbishment potential in an off gas property. The proposed strategy will utilise pioneering solar endothermic collector technology by Sunergy accompanied with a prototype heat engine to generate electricity. These innovative technologies will demonstrate advanced collection of solar and ambient heat energy to deliver significant energy and emission reductions for existing housing stock. Suitable energy efficiency measures will be implemented in the property, primarily addressing heat loss, lighting and appliance use. With highly sophisticated remote monitoring, this project will be valuable to measure the performance of the Sunergy system and other low carbon measures.

Construction type	Masonry Cavity	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	Semi-Detached	Sector	Public Residential
Location	Hawkley Hampshire	Project owner	Drum Housing (part of Radian)
Retrofit for the future	ZA379H

Development of an integrated Ground / Air / Solar Heat Pump for plug in retrofit

The retrofit will be carried out to an occupied house owned by Penwith Housing Association. It addresses the whole house solution by applying a comprehensive package of measures including fabric heat losses, heating and ventilating technology, renewable energy and lighting and appliance usage. It includes an innovative ground / air / solar source heat pump and the HeatPod a small prefabricated multi-purpose glazed porch / conservatory which contains much of the equipment required for reducing the carbon emissions of the dwelling. The complete package of measures builds on Penwith HAs practical knowledge of what can realistically be achieved in social housing homes and is designed to be highly replicable.

Construction type	Masonry Cavity	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	End Terrace	Sector	Public Residential
Location	Sennen Cornwall	Project owner	Penwith Housing Association Ltd
Retrofit for the future	ZA148E

Devizes - Whole house refurbishment of an off-gas 1930s 3-bed semi with advanced levels of energy efficiency, supplemented by an innovative air source heat pump

The objective of this project is to undertake the advanced, whole house refurbishment of an off-gas rural property to a high standard of energy efficiency, supplemented by the new Daikin Altherma air source heat pump. We confirm that the proposed retrofit is for a social housing property. The proposed works will enable us to test and develop a template package of improvements applicable to our void properties before they are re-let. The selected property is electrically heated resulting in high energy bills, high CO2 emissions and restricted comfort and utility for tenants. This project will also dedicate resources to educating future occupiers and staff at Sarsen to promote more sustainable lifestyles.

Construction type	Masonry Cavity	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	Semi-Detached	Sector	Public Residential
Location	Devizes Wiltshire	Project owner	Sarsen Housing Association
Retrofit for the future	ZA429H

East Midlands Housing Association Project

House is 2 up 2 down late 19C back of pavement terrace with side passage, solid walls. Project would fit high level insulation internally, high performance wood sash windows, air sealing, MVHR, and compensate for lost floor space due to insulation with attic pod room built off-site. Gas heating with solar thermal and Wattbox adaptive control (easy for tenants, reduces energy use ~10% and manages solar thermal hot water). New low energy lighting scheme throughout. Property will used by several decant tenants enabling multiple streams of user feedback to be collected. Project has developed integrated design team, much of it East Midlands based. Property is typical of EMHA stock and common across England and Wales.

Construction type	Solid Brick	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	Mid Terrace	Sector	Public Residential
Location	Leicester Leicestershire	Project owner	East Midlands Housing Association
Retrofit for the future	ZA577J

Eco-Energy Retrofit, Grove Housing Association, Belfast

The mid terrace solid wall house built in 1896, is located in North Belfast and owned by Grove HA. It is already relatively energy efficient having an RD SAP rating of 57 (band D) compared to the average in Northern Ireland of 50. There is currently no insulation under the floor slab so this will be replaced with one sitting on 200mm of phenolic insulation. This house is part of a terrace of mixed social and private dwellings, so external wall insulation can not be used. Internal wall insulation, Passivhaus windows and doors and good airtightness will secure the thermal envelope. To reduce PE demand, a condensing systems boiler, MVHR, LEDs and gas clothes drier will be installed, with a 1.72kWp PV array generating electricity on site.

Construction type	Solid Brick	Project type	Refurbishment
Property type	Mid Terrace	Sector	Public Residential
Location	Belfast County Antrim	Project owner	Eco-Energy (NI) Ltd
Retrofit for the future	ZA202H