Energy Retrofit: A Review of Transdisciplinary Approaches (original) (raw)
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Reflections on disruptive energy innovation in urban retrofitting: Methodology, practice and policy
Energy Research & Social Science, 2018
policy 1.The challenge of urban retrofit We live in an urban age. A majority of the world's population (3.9b or 54%) lives in cities and this is set to grow to 66% by 2050 (UN, 2014). On the one hand, this urban growth provides us with huge opportunities, because cities can act as centres of knowledge and innovation, enterprise and jobs, and as the focus for creating economies of scale in rolling out new technologies. However, this can also provide us with big challenges, because as urbanisation continues rapidly it creates more greenhouse gas emissions, depletes resources, consumes more energy and can create socioeconomic polarisation. Although 'cities' are only explicitly mentioned twice in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, the agreement did give a strong mandate to the global buildings and construction sector to help keep global warming below 2 degrees C, and to limit the increase even further to 1.5 degrees C. Moreover, cities are implicitly seen as a strong focus for mitigation and adaptation activities to tackle climate change impacts (UN Habitat, 2016). An important challenge is to be able to develop the knowledge, capacity and power for public bodies, businesses and other users in urban areas, particularly in the developed world, to systemically retrofit built environment and city infrastructure to respond to climate change, resource depletion and socio-environmental problems (Dixon et al, 2014a; Eames et al, 2017). Indeed, over the last decade, the drive to 'retrofit' existing buildings and the built environment in response to the long-term challenges of climate change and resource constraints has gained increased discussion and debate (Dawson, 2007; Kelly, 2009; Eames et al, 2013). In the UK, the Climate Change Act and related 80% emissions reduction target for 2050 have focused considerable attention on the impact of the built environment in cities on greenhouse gas emissions. In the UK there is a strong focus on retrofitting existing buildings and infrastructure. Because building stock turnover in the UK is relatively sluggish, only about 1-2% of total building stock each year can be defined as 'new build' (Dixon, 2009; Stafford et al, 2011), and approximately 70% of total 2010 building stock is expected to still be standing in 2050 (Better Buildings Partnership, 2010). The concept of 'retrofitting' has the literal meaning of 'adding (a component or accessory) to something that did not have it when manufactured' (Oxford English Dictionary), but the term has also often also been used synonymously in the built environment with terms such as 'refurbishment' or 'conversion' (Dixon, 2014a). At a city-scale, however, retrofit is seen as more comprehensive and wider in scope. For example, 'sustainable urban retrofitting' can be seen as the directed alteration of the fabric, forms or systems that comprise the built environment to improve water, energy and waste efficiencies (Eames, 2011). Research on retrofitting in the built environment has traditionally focused on either individual buildings (or building components), or neighbourhood or district level, as opposed to city scale. However, we often think of this kind of large-scale transforming change in relation to 'what' is needed, and 'how' it can be implemented, without thinking about the way in which to address both together (
Overcoming the systemic challenges of retrofitting residential buildings in the United Kingdom
Transitions in Energy Efficiency and Demand, 2018
Transitions in Energy Efficiency and Demand provides an important contribution to the energy transition literature, correcting the usual bias towards energy supply. Drawing on case studies of innovation, it highlights demandside innovations in system change; and by using sociotechnical approaches, the case studies avoid the trap of thinking of innovation simply in terms of technical fixes.' Nick Eyre, Professor, University of Oxford, UK 'Transitions in Energy Efficiency and Demand is at the forefront of research on energy innovation and energy demand, providing new and in-depth insights into both technological and social change across a range of domains. Essential reading for scholars, policy makers, business leaders, students, and anyone else interested in a low-carbon, energy-efficient and lowdemand energy transition.' Marilyn Brown,
2018
The research in this thesis ultimately emanates from the international efforts to mitigate the impacts of anthropogenic climate change. The unprecedented international effort to transition societies to a low carbon future will have wide ranging political, social and economic consequences. The nature of the modern, complex, joined-up world entails that changes in any particular domain will have consequences that are wide-ranging, and often intangible. This thesis entails three distinct empirical pieces of research in relation to a key facet of many national climate mitigation efforts, namely the energy efficient retrofit of existing residential buildings. It develops a multi-level, interdisciplinary perspective that incorporates three different views on the rationale for retrofit. At the macro, government level the research considers the multiple benefit framing of energy efficiency in relation to the rationale for retrofit policy. Using the multiple streams theory of policy formatio...
An Assessment of Low Energy Design Practices in Housing Retrofit Projects
Energy Procedia, 2013
The UK housing sector accounts for approximately 30% of total energy demand and accounts for 27% of carbon emissions. The uptake of low energy retrofit (LER) within the existing housing stock is piecemeal and currently not sufficient to achieve the 80% carbon reduction legally binding commitment by 2050 in the UK. Literature reveals that improving thermal insulation is the most preferred LER design approach in housing projects. Furthermore, there are no legislative requirements to drive architects to design in low energy housing retrofit strategies in their current projects. Therefore, this research engaged architects specializing in housing refurbishment through a questionnaire survey to investigate LER design challenges and enablers. Results indicate that high capital costs for microgeneration technologies; disparity in VAT between new build and refurbishment; and the complexity of the UK existing housing stock are the most considerable LER housing design challenges. On the other hand; a tax rebate for LER driven projects; removal of the VAT difference between new build and refurbishment; increased research to produce affordable low energy technologies; and increased government low carbon programs were identified as the key incentives to drive the LER housing agenda.
Energy retrofit of tower blocks in UK: making the case for an integrated approach
2018
Tower blocks in UK are at a critical stage. They were built at a time when no energy efficiency requirements were considered. They are now approaching the end of their design service life and they are damp, and cold place to live. Starting from the analysis about the diffusion of multi-storey buildings in EU, and the findings of other research projects such as INSPIRE and Faro, this work debates the strategies applied for energy efficiency improvement of large panel concrete buildings. This work debates the structural retrofit that in many cases are required prior to any energy retrofit intervention and draw the attention on the necessity to develop more holistic retrofit approaches, aiming to the development of best practice for energy, safety and social benefits.
Analysis of Energy Retrofit Assessment Methodologies in Buildings by European Research Projects
Environmental and Climate Technologies
Energy retrofit of existing buildings is one of the main keys to achieve European Union’s decarbonising objectives defined in the European Green Deal. In order to proceed into them, European policy has been adapted and several research projects are developed. The aim of this paper is to analyse the assessment methodology of the research projects, setting up the overview of the assessed fields and the criteria followed to perform and evaluate each project. As working methodology, 18 projects have been studied, firstly characterising by the main parameters and afterwards analysing the assessment followed by each one. This analysis is decomposed into five parameters: the assessment scope, reflecting the fields covered by the project’s assessment; data source, the nature of the data; verification, use of data verification strategies; and implementation of life cycle thinking in the assessment methodology. The research shows that although the projects have their bases in the EU energetic...
Global Research Trends on Energy Efficient Retrofitting in Existing Buildings
Periodica Polytechnica Architecture
Built environments have destructive effects on the natural environment as one of the responsible actors in increasing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, all types of energy-efficient and sustainable improvement studies for the existing building stock are pivotal in reducing the adverse effects on the environment. Although the measures taken and targets determined in line with the policy regulations implemented on a global scale are promising, the proliferation rate of these practices is relatively low. The retrofit process's complex nature, which requires multi-dimensional solutions involving several aspects, increases the significance of relevant studies. In this context, it is thought that it will be beneficial to monitor, analyse and assess contemporary studies in determining the areas that require further research. This study presents a comprehensive literature analysis using the science mapping method using bibliometric data of qualified academic st...
Building energy retrofitting in urban areas
Procedia Engineering, 2011
The analysis of existing built environment shows that the critical values of the peripheral areas, together with the very poor energy performance of existing buildings and the levels of possible transformations they imply, may contribute, collectively, to formulate from light to radical proposals for urban and building retrofitting. In such urban contexts, the reading of urban spaces and the environmental evaluation of their use, both in relation to the intrinsic features of the buildings and with the outdoor spaces, take on a renewed importance. In terms of architectural structure, this importance is focused on the building shell, which can be properly re-thought by proposing new energy efficient technological solutions aimed at re-shaping the technical and formal aspect of the building. These solutions, although developed and conducted on a single building and at the building-level technology, thus contributing to re-function the spatial units, may also been conceived in order to positively affect the urban places and the surrounding environment, fostering a mending relation between the built space and the environmental boundary conditions.
International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 2017
Purpose – There is profound demand for higher skills and expertise in retrofitting the existing building stock of Europe. The delivery of low-or nearly zero-energy retrofits is highly dependent on technical expertise, adoption of new materials, methods of construction and innovative technologies. Future Irish national building regulations will adopt the EPBD vision of retrofitting existing buildings to higher energy efficiency standards. The role of key stakeholders in the industry becomes highly responsible for achieving the energy performance targets. Specifically, the paper assesses the attitudes, approaches and experiences of Irish construction professionals regarding energy efficient buildings, particularly nZEBs. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through a series of assessments under qualitative research including survey, workshop and detailed interviews with professionals in the retrofit industry. The structure of this approach was informed by preliminary data and information available on the Irish construction sector. Findings – There is a substantial amount of ambiguity and reluctance among the professionals in reaching the Irish nearly zero-energy building (nZEB) targets. The growing retrofit industry demonstrates low-quality auditing and pre/post-retrofit analysis. Basic services and depth of retrofits are compromised by project budgets and marginal profits. Unaligned value supply chain, poor interaction among nZEB professionals and fragmented services are deterrents to industry standardisation. Social implications – This study has implications for understanding the social barriers existing in retrofit projects. Support from clients/ owners has a diverse impact on energy performance and retrofit decisions. Community-based initiatives are key to unlock the promotion of nZEBs. Practical implications – This study will enable construction industry stakeholders to make provisions for overcoming the barriers, gaps and challenges identified in the practices of the retrofit projects. It will also inform the formulation of policies that drive retrofit uptake. Originality/value – This paper provides an overview of current activities of retrofit professionals and analyses the barriers, gaps and challenges in the industry.
Energy & Environment, 2012
The UK has set a highly ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. Around 27% of emissions of carbon dioxide [the main greenhouse gas] is generated by housing in use. Around 30% of the UK housing stock is social landlord and local authority owned. Meanwhile, fuel prices are increasing, and consequently fuel poverty. Turnover in the building stock is much lower than for any other product; buildings have a much longer average life, and most new build is additional not replacement, so the most important impacts on energy use and carbon emissions will come from the existing stock even in 2050. Thus considerable innovation and investment is needed to meet the ambitious carbon reduction targets and to contain rising energy costs, by reducing demand and decarbonising supply.