RINNAI’S HOT WATER STORAGE SOLUTIONS NOW IN ELECTRIC

Rinnai, as an integral part of its H3 initiative, has designed and produced an electrical option in hot water storage units for commercial applications. The Infinit-E range is fitted with 1 and 6 titanium elements ensuring a productive and sustained product life cycle. The Infinit-E range is available from 12kw to 72kw making all models suited towards a variety of applications in all commercial and larger residential settings.

All electric cylinder models in the Infint-E range are manufactured with stainless steel providing added durability. Inclusion of stainless steel in the production process results in a lightweight model that can be easily transported and handled, excusing the need for heavy manual labour.

Maximum weight of an empty Infinit-E model is 54kg. Quality manufacturing and design ensures that all Infinit-E models are durable and robust, minimal maintenance working lives supported by extensive and comprehensive warranties.

All electrical elements can be fitted to a single-phase or three-phase supply should site limitations demand. Each contained element within the appliance range has its own controllable thermostat with a temperature range between 49 and 90 degrees Celsius.

Fuse protection is applied to all elements eliminating the requirement for expensive sacrificial anodes due to the inclusion of stainless steel within the manufacturing process.

The Infinit-E range of electrical water cylinders is available to purchase now – visit www.rinnaiuk.com for more details.

Rinnai’s H3 range continues to offer products that supply solutions towards energy costs and decarbonisation.

RINNAI H3 PRODUCT ROADMAP TO LOWER CARBON AND NET ZERO DE-CARBONISATION

Rinnai’s product and service offering is based on H3- Hydrogen, Heating and Heat Pumps – which allows any site in either residential or commercial sites to maximise the energy efficiency and performance in striving for NetZero and Decarbonisation. Additionally, Rinnai is developing and introducing electrical formats to all existing product ranges within the next few months. Rinnai’s new “H3” range of products includes a wide selection of commercial heat pumps as well as hydrogen blends-ready and hybrid hot water heating systems.

Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year. The company operates on each of the five continents and the brand has gained an established reputation for high performance, robust cost efficiency and extended working lives.

Rinnai’s commercial and domestic hot water products offer a limitless supply of instantaneous temperature controlled hot water and all units are designed to align with present and future energy sources and accept either natural gas or hydrogen gas blends. Rinnai units are also suited for off-grid customers who require LPG and BioLPG or rDME.

Rinnai units are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours. System design services are available if needed and cost comparison services are accessible to all customers who require further cost detail.

Rinnai’s Innovation Manifesto clearly outlines the path to carbon neutrality and maintains a pledge to fully decarbonize company operations by 2050. Rinnai will further support the global clean energy transition by introducing a wide variety of domestic heating options across multiple energy vectors.

Rinnai is committed to decarbonisation. Rinnai’s water heating products are all hydrogen-blends ready NOW including the world’s first 100% hydrogen powered water heater. Rinnai products also accept BioLPG capable of delivering NetZero carbon emissions. Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry. More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit

www.rinnaiuk.com

 

 

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HYDROGEN – Greenwashing in the heating sector

Questions raised about use of hydrogen in home heating

The hydrogen industry has been accused of miscommunicating basic facts on hydrogen’s potential for home heating, during the Competition and Markets Authority’s review of greenwashing in the heating sector.

In evidence submitted to the CMA, independent renewable energy charity MCS Charitable Foundation said that consumers are not receiving crucial information on the safety, disruption or cost of hydrogen heating technologies.

The Foundation claims that gas companies have an interest in promoting the roll-out of hydrogen boilers as a replacement for natural gas, stating that these and other companies have claimed that hydrogen can help reduce carbon emissions from the UK’s housing stock.

A recently-launched website, paid for by hydrogen industry companies, claims to provide information to consumers about hydrogen boilers. It states that installing a hydrogen boiler “will be just like installing a current gas boiler”.

Yet MCS Charitable Foundation has compiled evidence demonstrating that switching homes from gas to hydrogen will undoubtedly result in physical disruption to a property. For example, research commissioned by the government shows that all pipework would need to be surveyed and some will need to be replaced due to the risk of hydrogen leaking, which in turn could lead to explosions.

In addition, hydrogen promotional material implies that hydrogen would cost “around the same price as natural gas before the recent energy price crisis”.  But research by energy analysts Cornwall Insight shows that, even taking into account falls in price as hydrogen technology develops, the production costs of hydrogen will remain 70-90% higher than gas.

More independent research also shows that fuel bills would double or even triple in hydrogen-based heating systems, and that hydrogen is simply not a viable option for home heating.

Dr Richard Hauxwell-Baldwin, research and campaigns manager at MCS Charitable Foundation, said: “The CMA is right to have concerns about greenwashing in relation to hydrogen boilers. The evidence is clear that using hydrogen for heating will mean higher fuel bills. Burning hydrogen also releases NOx greenhouse gases, a fact that seems to be routinely miscommunicated by hydrogen lobbyists.

“The hydrogen lobby needs to come clean about the risks that hydrogen boilers pose for consumers’ fuel bills and for net zero. While hydrogen has its place in a net zero future, that place is not in the home.

“A much more effective and immediate alternative for getting fuel bills down and cutting carbon from our homes is for the Government to roll out a massive programme of insulating houses and installing heat pumps.”

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Cala invites local community to review its Cathcart plans

Inverlair Avenue, Cathcart

Cala Homes (West) is holding the first community consultation on proposals for a new residential development in Cathcart.
The housebuilder will host an in-person event on Thursday 10 November between 6pm and 8pm followed by a second session on Saturday 12 November between 10am and 2pm. Both will take place in the gym hall at Celeros Flow Technology’s office at 149 Newlands Road.
The local community is encouraged to attend these open events to learn about plans for the site, raise questions and meet the development team.
Moray Stewart, Land Director at Cala Homes said: “Community consultations are an imperative part of the land and planning process for any site, and with this one being in the heart of the Cathcart community we are encouraging local residents and businesses to come along to the events and find out more about the plans for the site.
“We want to bring a collection of high-quality homes to an existing and established neighbourhood in Glasgow and as such we want to share our vision of the site to showcase to the community how the development will enhance and complement the area.”
A formal planning application for around 300 new high quality sustainable apartments is expected to be submitted early next year and, if the planning application is successful, Cala will complete the purchase of the site, with the intention to start building by Winter 2023.
The site, recently named as Weirs Works, is located between Inverlair Avenue, Newlands Road and Spean Street in the city’s southside area of Cathcart.
The name Weirs Works hails from the original George and James Weir who owned a revolutionary machine shop on the site in Cathcart – they went on to develop numerous ground-breaking inventions in pumping equipment used throughout the Clyde shipyards and laterally during World War I.
Local community members and businesses interested in the development are encouraged to submit feedback on the housing proposals until 05 December.
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CHALLENGE TO OFGEM

The energy regulator, Ofgem, has been challenged by a leading energy trade body to examine the real-world consequence of shifting homes from gas onto heat pumps.

The CEO of Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), Mike Foster, has written to the regulator Jonathan Brearley, calling for a village-sized trial of decarbonising homes using heat pumps.

The trial will mirror that currently being considered for homes to be converted to hydrogen, another option being considered to decarbonise the UK.

Mr Foster said:

 

“A Heat Pump Village trial will replicate what will happen all across the UK if the government decides that hydrogen will not replace natural gas. Such a trial, conducted now, will help inform the regulator and government of the consequences for the consumer.”

“Electricity networks will need massive upgrades to the wires, the substations and even the pylons. Homes need assessing for their suitability for a heat pump. That means looking at the fabric of the building itself, its outside space, its internal pipework or even where to put a hot water tank. A Heat Pump Village trial does just this.”

“Ofgem should have the consumer at the very heart of its thinking. Reinforcement of the power network will come at a massive cost; the consumer will foot the bill so they have a right to know what this is likely to be. They should also be told what is required from them in their homes.”

“Alongside Hydrogen Village trials, a Heat Pump Village trial will provide the much-needed evidence for policymakers as they tackle the challenge of decarbonising UK homes. The cost of a trial will be miniscule compared to getting this wrong. I urge Ofgem to step up to the plate and take a lead.”

 

FULL LETTER TO OFGEM

26th October 2022

Jonathan Brearley CEO Ofgem

Dear Jonathan

Heat Pump Village trials

As you know, the Gas Distribution Networks are currently working on Hydrogen Village tri­als, to assess how a transition from natural gas to 100 per cent hydrogen would work. This involves detailed house-to-house examination of gas appliances; consideration of what network changes are needed and how the consumer reacts to this possible route to do­mestic decarbonisation. It will be an invaluable learning exercise, which frankly should be done at more than one site to ensure the widest reach of data.

But I am conscious that no such exercise is being conducted for alternative technologies, such as heat pumps. The BEIS funded Low Carbon heat trial is fundamentally a different proposition and cannot be compared to the Hydrogen Village trials. Under the BEIS scheme, households have self-selected to receive heat pumps from wide geographical ar­eas, meaning that any impact upon the electricity network is diluted and will not reflect the real world experience that mass adoption of heat pumps brings. A heat pump trial, in a dedicated location, would simulate the real world challenges that power networks will face.

Importantly, such a trial would also give great consumer insight into the challenging area of heat decarbonisation. It would examine not only customer attitudes, but also house-by­house suitability for heat pumps taking into account the building fabric and any heating system changes needed, such as hot water storage or microbore pipe restrictions.

Examining a whole “village” this way will also address the important matter of designing a

process for local gas network decommissioning, if hydrogen does not replace natural gas, whilst protecting consumer interests.

Failure to consider such a trial suggests two things, firstly that Ofgem do not consider heat pumps will replace gas, hydrogen, in the future or they do not want to know what the power network costs and consumer response will be to moving homes off gas.

I look forward to hearing that Ofgem will consider a Heat Pump Village trial.

Yours sincerely,

 

Mike Foster

CEO – Energy and Utilities Alliance

 

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RED FLAG FOR 690 HOME DEVELOPMENT

Plans for a 690-home development in Coventry have been rejected by councillors for the second time. The bid for outline permission to build seven blocks of flats on land at Abbotts Lane in Coundon had been recommended for approval by council officers.

It was a different version of a 731 home-scheme for the site by Complex Development Projects which was refused by councillors last year. But members of the council’s Planning Committee weren’t convinced by the new proposals and voted to refuse the scheme by four to one.

Local residents voiced their concerns about the plans at the meeting yesterday afternoon (November 3). Nicola Rynott, headteacher at nearby St Osburg’s primary school, criticised the “huge” scale of the development and plans for a vehicle exit opposite the school entrance.

Roads near the school are extremely congested and bringing more cars would be “disastrous” for the safety of pupils, she said. She added: “We continue to be concerned about the proposal high-rise buildings overlooking our playgrounds from a safeguarding point of view.

“And we echo the West Midlands Police’s concerns about the size of the development and potential anti-social behaviour increasing crime, which is already an issue in the area. I was personally labelled in the Coventry Telegraph as irresponsible for objecting to this development as it stands.

“I think I would be more irresponsible as headteacher of the school if I did not object.” A woman living close by said in a statement: “As a local resident with a grandchild at St Osburg’s the development on this scale fills me with dread.

“I don’t want ten, fifteen, twenty-storey blocks towering over me, invading my privacy. I fear for the safety and health of pupils going to and from school because all of the additional traffic and air pollution so near to the school’s worst hotspots.”

Resident Amrit Coyle added: “The site was viably allocated for 100 houses in our Local Plan – this application is for seven times 100 homes.” Sherbourne Cllr Gavin Lloyd, who sponsored two petitions against the plans, said: “We want development. We do want it not to be a vacant gas site.

“What we don’t want unfortunately is what is put forward. It is massively overcrowded and massively intense for the community to deal with.” Others at the meeting spoke in support of the scheme.

Paul Maddocks, Vice-Chairman of the Coventry Society, said members of the group had looked closely at the application and support it. He said: “We feel that this is the future. Not everybody is going to be wanting to drive cars in an ideal future.”

Cllr David Welsh, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, told the meeting “an awful lot of work” had been done since the previous plans were rejected last year. He spoke about the city’s housing need and pointed to a high-density block of flats for older people on Albany Road as an example of an in-demand scheme.

“We also have people waiting for housing, for a number of reasons, on Homefinder. We’ve got nearly six and a half thousand people. So this idea that we don’t need different kinds of accommodation quite frankly is a nonsense.”

He added: “We’ve had contributions today that in my mind contradict each other, because you say there’s not enough parking spaces and then you say that it’s going to cause problems around air pollution and air quality. Well, you know, you can’t have it both ways.”

“Some people choose to live without cars, a lot of people don’t. This development treads that line.” He also praised the green space in the scheme and said there would be an agreement around introducing affordable housing. via a separate application.

The planning agent for Complex Development Projects also spoke at the meeting. She said objections referring to the 100 houses in the local plan are “incorrect” as national guidance states these should be used as a minimum.

A total of 20 per cent of the flats would be at 80 per cent of market rent and the scheme would appeal to young singles and couples in their 20s to 30s. She said locals would be protected by a fully-funded resident’s parking scheme.

Councillors on the Planning Committee were divided on the plans with many raising “red flags” about the scheme. Cllr Ryan Simpson said it was a “particularly tricky” scheme for him as a Sherbourne ward councillor as well as Committee member.

He said he was elected with a mandate supporting the principle of development on the site and believes there is a “silent majority” supporting it. Cllr Simpson also referred to his own difficulties finding a flat in Coundon as a recent graduate.

“People who need apartments like this are actually like me, early 20s, have just left university,” he said. “If I was unable to find a one or two bedroom apartment I would still be in an HMO.

“I do not need a four-bedroom home in Keresley. I need a one or two bedroom apartment and I don’t think there’s enough of that in Coventry.” But Committee Chair Cllr Lindsley Harvard said there were “too many red flags” for him to support the application.

“There are too many red flags here. I was disappointed first of all that the views of the West Midlands Police that were there in the report last time were not there this time,” he said.

“Looking at what the CDP says, it says 100 units here, not 690 – it’s clearly an overdevelopment in that respect. In terms of parking, yes, massively under-supplied when you see what is in the parking requirements in the CDP.

“We did hear a statement that you can’t have problems with air quality and call for more parking. A few things there – it’s not impossible that you can have lower parking and incredible problems with air quality because of the number of deliveries there.”

“Affordable housing is another red flag for me, yes it’s saying we can look at the West Midlands plans and see what happens there but that’s jam tomorrow.” He also criticised the housing mix and the height of the buildings which would recreate “well-documented” problems with 1960s and 70s high-rise blocks.

After a lengthy debate Cllrs Harvard, Auluck, Nazeem and Pervez Akhtar voted for a motion to refuse the plans with Cllr Simpson against and Cllr Naeem Akhtar abstaining. The grounds for refusal were overdevelopment, insufficient parking, air quality concerns, the housing mix and the affordable housing provision.

 

Source: Coventry Live

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NEW ALL ELECTRIC PRISON

Construction starts on UK’s first all-electric prison

Over 600 jobs are set to be created as construction starts on the UK’s first all-electric prison at Full Sutton in East Yorkshire.

The new prison – opening in 2025 – will hold nearly 1,500 prisoners who will spend their time behind bars learning the skills they need to find work on release, as part of the government’s drive to cut re-offending and keep the public safe.

The site will be the first prison in the UK to run solely on electricity, with solar panels and heat pump technology meaning it will use 78% less energy than HMP Wormwood Scrubs – a traditional Victorian prison – cutting energy costs to taxpayers by over £1.1 million a year.

The government will launch a competition later this year to select an operator to run the new prison. Companies bidding will be challenged to produce a ‘jobs blueprint’ setting out how they would work with local businesses to train-up prisoners with the skills most sought by local employers. The plan forms part of the government’s drive to cut re-offending and make our streets safer by helping ex-offenders find work and put crime behind them.

Minister for Prisons and Probation, Damian Hinds, said:

The new prison at Full Sutton will protect the public and the public purse, using the latest technology to cut energy costs.

Giving prisoners the skills in demand by local businesses will help them find work and turn over a new leaf – cutting reoffending and making our streets safer.

The new jail will be supporting former prisoners into meaningful work before it even opens its doors – with at least 50 ex-offenders to be employed by construction firm Kier.

The building project is also set to boost jobs in East Yorkshire, with a quarter of those working on the build and 40% of the construction spend falling within 50 miles – filling order books for local supply chain businesses.

Ministers have launched the public consultation to choose the name of the new facility – inviting people in and around Full Sutton to offer suggestions which reflect the culture and history of the area.

Councillor Jonathan Owen, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:

I welcome the start of the construction of the new prison which, when completed, will provide a great boost to the local economy and employment market with the creation of over 600 jobs as well as providing a focus on skills and training to get prisoners into jobs on their release.

The new site will set a gold-standard for energy efficiency – set to use 68% less energy from the national grid than even the newly-built HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, and draw 18 GWh less energy from the electricity and gas networks every year than HMP Belmarsh – which is equivalent to powering 1,200 homes for a year.

The start of construction at Full Sutton follows hot on the heels of HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Britain’s first ‘smart’ prison which opened in March. Work is also nearing completion at HMP Fosse Way, the new 1,700-place prison set to open at Glen Parva in Leicestershire next year.

Liam Cummins, Group managing director of Kier Construction, said:

Breaking ground at Full Sutton (November 3rd) yesterday was a major milestone for this new prison. It builds on our successful partnership with the MoJ, where we have been operating successfully in close collaboration for the past decade.

We will deliver this new prison as a cutting-edge facility, built on engineering excellence that we have utilised on other projects, and using innovative sustainable methods which will achieve net zero in operation.

Alongside this, we’ll create hundreds of jobs throughout the lifecycle of the project, supporting local people and the supply chain, as well as providing opportunities for prisoners on release.

Jason Millett, CEO for Consult at Mace, said:

Mace has worked closely with the MoJ to deliver the New Prisons Programme, completing at HMP Five Wells earlier this year and bringing practical delivery experience to the entirety of the programme.

The new prison at Full Sutton will be a world-leading example of how a focus on net zero development can create positive, sustainable change. This milestone is a fantastic achievement for our teams and demonstrates our strength in delivering against the decarbonisation agenda.

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Construction output up, but orders falter

The UK’s construction sector output rose at the fastest pace in five months during October, according to a recent survey results, but new orders and business optimism dropped sharply.

The S&P Global/CIPS UK construction purchasing managers’ index rose to 53.2 points in October from 52.3 in September. It continued to pick up from the 26-month low of 48.9 in July.

Rising further above the 50.0 no-change mark, the PMI reading shows the activity in the construction sector expanded at a faster rate.

The reading was markedly higher than FXStreet-cited market consensus, which had been expecting growth to slow to a score of 50.5.

“Commercial work was the best-performing area of activity as delayed projects moved forward, while increased house building also provided a positive contribution to overall workloads,” said Tim Moore, S&P Global economics director.

Despite the overall growth in output, new work fell for the first time since May 2020, which increased concerns about longer-term tender opportunities.

“The forward-looking survey indicators highlight that growth will be harder to achieve in the coming months as rising borrowing costs, economic uncertainty and cost constraints all had a negative influence on order books in October.”

Business confidence also fell during the months, and reached its lowest levels since the early months of Covid.

“Construction firms cited concerns about a broad-based decline in client demand due to cutbacks on non-essential spending among clients, although some noted that growth linked to green energy projects, planned infrastructure spending and success in niche markets could help to offset the UK economic headwinds,” Moore continued.

The S&P Global/CIPS UK construction PMI is compiled from responses to surveys sent to around 150 construction companies, with data collected between October 12 and 28.

 

Source: The Morning Star

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ANOTHER GIGAWATT RECORD FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

The UK’s onshore and offshore wind farms generated more than 20 gigawatts (GW) for the first time, setting a new record, according to National Grid ESO.

Renewables trade association RenewableUK reports today that it’s the second wind energy generation record to be set within the space of a week.

UK wind generation set the record during the half-hour period from noon to 12:30 p.m. n November 2nd, when it reached 20,896 megawatts (MW) – providing an impressive 53% of the UK’s electricity.

And in more good news, National Grid ESO reported that yesterday, wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, and storage – all low emissions sources – provided 70% of the UK’s electricity overall.

Yesterday’s wind generation record broke the previous record set just a week earlier, on October 26 between 11:30 a.m. and noon, when it reached 19,936 GW.

It’s welcome news as the UK heads into winter and faces a natural gas supply crunch following Russia’s supply cut following its invasion of Ukraine.

RenewableUK’s chief executive Dan McGrail said:

 

Generating more than 20 GW of electricity for the first time represents a new milestone for wind energy in Britain. The fact that we’ve smashed the last record within the space of a week shows that wind is consistently generating vast amounts of clean power and becoming the backbone of our modern energy system.

This benefits hard-pressed bill payers too, because wind has become the UK’s cheapest source of new power. It’s also strengthening our energy security at a time when generating our own electricity from home-grown sources has become vitally important.

 

Although the latest statistics reflect a new electricity generation record, the highest percentage of electricity generated from wind in a half-hour period in the UK is 64% on January 29, 2022.

Source: Electrek

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AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Planning Proposal Submitted for ‘Transformational’ Development Next to Salts Mill World Heritage Site in Saltaire, Shipley 

Artisan Real Estate Unveil Ambitious Plans for 289 New Homes – Plus Offices, Cafe and Riverside Park  

 A spectacular vision to transform a vacant office block on the edge of the Salts Mill World Heritage Site in Saltaire, Shipley into a vibrant residential quarter and riverside park is a step closer to reality following the submission of a major planning application to Bradford Council.

Niche developer Artisan Real Estate has unveiled ambitious proposals for the 11-acre site, sandwiched between the River Aire and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, which was formerly home to an HMRC office complex which closed in October 2021.

Artisan’s plans for its Saltire Riverside development include 289 new homes, more than 5,000 sq. ft. of small commercial office space designed for flexible working and a café facing on to a new ‘pocket’ park and piazza.  A sizeable riverside park will seamlessly link the development to the River Aire, providing woodland, grasslands and lawns to act as a natural flood water storage area. Walkways provide direct access to Saltaire Rail Station and the canal towpath, with easy pedestrian and cycle links to nearby Shipley.

The proposal, developed with Yorkshire-based architects Axis Architecture, is the result of a more than 12-months of design planning, underpinned by a comprehensive public consultation programme – including two design workshops with local stakeholders and three major public events.

Artisan Real Estate has a strong track record in delivering complex residential and mixed-use regeneration projects in sensitive urban and city-centre environments – including the award-winning New Waverley in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and the transformation of the historic Everard’s Printworks in Bristol’s Old City. Welcoming the Saltire Riverside planning submission, James Bulmer, Development Director for Leeds-based Artisan North said: “Our proposals for Saltire Riverside herald another significant addition to Artisan’s enviable list of transformational regeneration projects in highly desirable regional locations across the UK.

“Progressing such a large development on the very edge of a UNESCO World Heritage site brings its own set of challenges and responsibilities, and we have taken time to understand and reflect the unique historical contexts of the Salts Mill location.  We have spent considerable time working closely with local residents and groups to ensure our plans meet the need, wants and demands of this unique location.”

He added: “We want this to be a modern interpretation of neighbouring Saltaire, bringing much needed sustainable family housing in an accessible, well connected and environmentally responsible setting – with the added advantage of low energy costs and exemplarily green credentials.  This is a hugely exciting development that will spectacularly open up a large riverside area that has effectively been closed to the public since the 1970s when the HMRC complex was built. Our proposals will bring excitement, interest and investment to the area and provide a natural, contemporary extension of the existing Saltaire footprint.”

Artisan’s proposed scheme will remove the existing five-storey HMRC building which consists of two large hexagonal office blocks, with a start on site forecast for 2023, dependent on necessary planning permissions. Prior to the HMRC development, the site was used as occasional storage shed area, allotments and grazing land for canal ponies.

Saltaire Village is named after Sir Titus Salt who built a textile mill known as Salts Mill and the supporting village overlooking the River Aire in the second half of the 19th century. Designed by architects, Lockwood and Mawson, Saltaire has beautiful Italianate architecture and a rich history and was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001. Saltaire followed in the footsteps of other model settlements in providing a relatively healthy environment for workers to reside and work. The village is considered an outstanding example of mid-19th century philanthropic paternalism and had a profound influence on developments in industrial social welfare and urban planning in the United Kingdom and beyond.

For more information about Artisan’s Saltire Riverside development, visit: www.saltaireriverside.co.uk

For more information on Artisan Real Estate visit www.artisanrealestate.co.uk 

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New study says retrofitting for carbon neutrality a significant investment

Typical UK households will require financial support to ensure that the country’s housing stock is retrofitted to the highest levels of energy efficiency, a new study has revealed.

The findings come from the “Nottingham Carbon Neutral Housing: Cost vs Carbon Retrofit Roadmap” project, which received £350,000 from the UK Government as part of the UK Community Renewal Fund. Led by the University of Nottingham, the project has seen the development of a retrofit roadmap to inform the decarbonisation of the city’s existing housing stock to help reach its carbon neutral targets by 2028; and the UK’s by 2050.

According to the London Energy Transformation Initiative, residential buildings represent 22% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Around 80% of buildings that will form the UK’s future housing stock have already been built, with the vast majority being completed before 1990’s introduction of building regulations that established minimum targets for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Professor Lucelia Rodrigues, project lead and Professor of Sustainable and Resilient Cities at the University of Nottingham, said: “Our retrofit roadmap has provided a unique breakdown for all different building types, and assessed what is needed to tackle housing emissions and accelerate the city’s 2028 ambitions.  We’ve discovered that the cost of ‘deep retrofit’, retrofitting a home to the highest levels of energy efficiency, is at least double the expected amount – averaging around £69,000.

 

 

Lucelia continued: “We’ve also learned that, for most homes, it is both more cost- and carbon-effective to first improve the building’s fabric before electrifying heating.

“Additionally, the study has revealed that 14,539 no-income Nottingham homes could mistakenly not be considered as fuel-poor. This means that these have been missed from the government’s current estimates that suggest the total number in Nottingham to be in the region of 35,000.”

Since receiving funding in November 2021, the university and its project partners, Nottingham Energy Partnership, Focus Consultants and the Active Building Centre Research Programme, have explored the energy and carbon reduction benefits of a series of retrofit strategies to improve typical existing housing, taking a sequential approach based on likelihood and feasibility. An assessment of cost and carbon-effectiveness of the retrofit interventions has also been produced, accounting for embodied carbon of fabric improvements and heating systems. It is the first time all these elements have been considered together at this scale.

 

Councillor Sally Longford, Portfolio Holder for Energy, Environment and Waste Services at Nottingham City Council, said: “I welcome the findings from the University of Nottingham’s retrofit roadmap study. Through our experience with whole-house retrofit projects, we could see that the UK government’s estimate of £30,000 per household would not be sufficient to fully future-proof homes in the city in line with net-zero standards.

 

“Heating and powering buildings in the city accounts for the largest proportion of Nottingham’s carbon emissions. We have been making good progress on improving the energy efficiency of homes through our various Greener HousiNG schemes, which has led to 44.8% reduction in CO2 emissions from the domestic sector since 2005. Much of the city’s housing stock was built before 1990 – with poor insulation and fossil-fuel based heating being widespread – so it is vital that we’re able to roll out retrofit projects at scale if we are to reach our ambitious target of being a carbon neutral city by 2028.

I hope this research will encourage the government to commit to providing long-term funding for retrofit schemes. This will allow us to tackle fuel poverty and improve the quality of life for people in the city, while working towards our CN28 goal.

Lucelia added: “With energy prices soaring, it has never been more important to ensure houses are improved so that homeowners can afford to remain comfortable. However, this will come at no small cost as Nottingham city’s housing stock is made up of 164,460 homes, so the costs of deep retrofitting houses alone would be in the region of £6.7-7.2 billion.”

The “Nottingham Carbon Neutral Housing: Cost vs Carbon Retrofit Roadmap” project was one of four Nottingham initiatives to be funded by the UK Government through its flagship Community Renewal Fund (UK CRF) 2021/22. The results were formally revealed at an exclusive event on Wednesday 26 October, with more than 70 people in attendance.

To view including a breakdown of carbon and cost implications of retrofit strategies per home archetype and age, please visit: www.nottinghamcedi.org/downloads/

 

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