Retrofitting UK Homes - Social Landlords Improving Housing Stock to Meet Net Zero Targets
Unfortunately, the construction industry is responsible for approximately 40% of the world’s carbon emissions and because of this, their efforts towards meeting sustainable targets are often under scrutiny. Homebuilders are therefore extremely vocal about their sustainable building practices and their efforts to lessen the environmental impact of their builds.
However, it is unlikely that the government’s Net Zero targets will be achieved by 2050 solely through adapting building to more sustainable practices and increasing the efficiency of new homes being built. As argued by Homebuilding and Renovating magazine, ‘Several industry groups believe retrofitting the UK’s housing stock is essential, especially if the UK is to reach net zero by 2050.’
Housing Digital magazine takes this view even further, to specify social housing: ‘Without social housing providers contributing to decarbonising homes, it’s highly unlikely that the government’s ambitious target of net zero by 2050 will be achieved and environmental change will continue at the alarming rate we’re already witnessing.’
This is a view the government has taken on board with its awarding of almost £2bn in funding to upgrade social housing. This money is to be used for retrofitting, specifically:
The aim of the scheme is to lower the carbon footprint and increase the energy efficiency for each upgraded home. Housing Digital argues that, ‘This will enable social housing providers to go further, faster, when it comes to improving the state of properties around the country and implement much-needed, eco-friendly changes.’
It seems that retrofitting is becoming widely acknowledged as a useful and practical means to easing the housing shortage while reducing our carbon emissions and helping our homes become greener.
Why Retrofitting?
Aside from arguments from industry professionals that sustainable targets could not be met without retrofitting, it is also important to understand why retrofitting older properties is sometimes a preferable alternative to building new homes.
As well as being responsible for a large portion of global carbon emissions, the construction industry is also responsible for roughly a third of the world’s overall waste. As retrofitting means using up less new materials, this leads to a vast reduction in waste compared to that of a new build development.
As reported by Housing Digital magazine, ‘At the end of 2022, there were almost 650,000 empty homes in England according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and it’s likely that number has risen since then.’ Therefore, upgrading these empty properties to make them habitable, means increasing available housing stock without the need for building any new homes.
The upgraded systems in retrofitted homes will improve energy efficiency, which as well as having environmental benefits, will also lead to a reduction in household bills, as renewable energy systems will replace those that previously relied on gas. This means, as the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) advises, ‘Retrofitted homes are better protected against energy price increases as they can generate their own energy and are improved so they actually require less energy too.’ Meaning the inhabitants of the property will also see financial benefits from retrofitting their home, and, as CSE go on to say, ‘the recent increase in the cost of energy will also be taking a toll on people’s mental health as millions more people struggle to pay their bills.’
So, it is more than just the financial saving that retrofit residents benefit from. This is all the more reason for social housing providers to undertake retrofitting projects, as their residents are often those with the tightest household budgets and therefore more likely to suffer mentally from increased energy bills.
Retrofitting Methods
Retrofitting a property generally includes any work carried out that increases its energy efficiency, reduces its carbon emissions and improves insulation. As Homebuilding and Renovating magazine outline, ‘You can make quick, inexpensive improvements such as using LED bulbs and smart plugs, or adding draughtproofing to windows and doors, and these will help to reduce your energy use - but the biggest gains come from deep retrofits, or whole house retrofits.’ These are simple changes that could be made easily by social landlords to help increase the efficiency of the homes they provide.
On a larger scale, retrofitting involves upgrading insulation, lighting and temperature regulation, such as heating and cooling systems, water conservation upgrades and installing renewable energy systems. This would mean tackling upgrades over a whole property or development, which is a larger task to undertake but leads to greater gains in terms of efficiency and affordability for the home user.
And on an even larger scale than that, large, open buildings can be retrofitted using a number of methods outlined by Civiconcepts:
Adding New Shear Wall
Adding Steel Bracing
Wall Thickening Technique
Base Isolation Technique
Mass Reduction Technique
Jacketing Method
Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP)
Epoxy Injection Method
External Plate Bonding
These methods allow for the retrofitting of sizeable existing spaces without the need for demolition followed by building afresh, thus reducing waste as well as the use of new materials. Large commercial spaces can be repurposed and transformed into apartment buildings, allowing for an increase in available housing from social landlords.
Examples of Retrofitting
For social landlords, the idea of tackling the transformation of derelict buildings into operative homes might seem daunting but there are companies who are taking on this challenge, and with great success.
The National Housing Group (NHG) works with housing associations, councils and charities to supply affordable housing within the UK. As NHG described in an article for Housing Digital magazine:
They go on to explain that, ‘By transforming disused properties, we have been able to positively impact neighbourhoods and provide homes for those in need in their local areas.’ This commendable work could be replicated en masse to help social housing providers across the country meeting their housing provision targets while effectively improving the carbon footprint of their properties and the lives of their residents.
Explaining Retrofitting to Tenants
In order to carry out large scale retrofit projects, in some cases it might be necessary to move tenants into alternative accommodation while the work is being carried out. For this idea to be met with enthusiasm, it will be important to ensure residents understand the benefits they will gain from the completed work.
However, carrying out the retrofit and then simply sending tenants back into their homes will not be enough to reap the full benefits of the upgrade. The optimum functioning of renewable energy systems and the home’s efficiency will not reach their full potential without home users understanding the new additions to their home and how to operate and maintain them.
To help tenants make the most of the new features of their home, it will be important to provide information on how they can achieve this.
Our Tenant’s Guides to Retrofitting allow social housing providers to effortlessly roll out this information in an accessible format. These Guides contain all of the pertinent details and advice relating to the retrofitting works, as well as other useful tips for tenants looking to reduce their home’s carbon footprint.
For some residents, this information would be most accessible on their phones or tablets, whereas others may prefer to read this information and guidance in print. We can cater to both requirements, as well as provide a digital library of appliance manuals through our residential portal, Spaciable. To find out more about helping your tenants understand how to get the most out of their upgraded home, please get in touch.
