Housing refurbishment: Context

• The traditional role of housing refurbishment has been in the upgrading of houses to meet with contemporary expectations of weather-tightness, warmth and modern facilities.

• With the arrival of the Climate Change agenda there is now the added urgency of reducing the carbon emissions both of our existing and future housing stocks.

• Housing is responsible for 27% of the country’s carbon emissions.

• Around 50% of the residential emissions result from space heating and a further 20% from heating hot water.

• Around two –thirds of houses standing in 2050 will have been built prior to 1996. If the planned reduction of 80% of carbon emissions is to be realised, it is action in this sector that will be critical to the success of the Government’s ambition. Much of this stock was built before the introduction of modern standards and many homes still fall well below commonly accepted standards of thermal comfort.

• Housing stock distribution by type in 2001

• Take-up of insulation

• Loft insulation, % of thicknesses
56% have 100mm+
of which:
- 53% have 125mm+
- 33% have 150mm+

• Double glazing
52% of households have at least 60% of rooms double glazed.

• Draught proofing
81% of households have some draught proofing and 55% have at least 60% of rooms draught proofed

• Households with full and with no insulation

• Heat loss routes

• Type of central heating

• Carbon emissions due to to domestic energy consumption total 41.4M tonnes

(Source: 'Domestic energy fact file 2003' Shorrock and Utley, BRE Housing Centre)