Residential retrofit opportunities in conservation areas
At the CIBSE ASHRAE Technical Symposium in Glasgow, Kristina Roszynski presented research that explores the challenges faced in tackling the urgent need for large-scale residential retrofit within conservation areas in the UK.
Hosted at the University of Strathclyde on 20-21 April, CIBSE’s Technical Symposium (supported by ASHRAE) brought together a diverse group of industry experts and academics to share knowledge and expertise focused on the theme of ‘Delivering Safe, Sustainable and Healthy Buildings for a Net Zero Future’.
Cullinan Studio partner and Director of the GreenSCIES Centre of Excellence, Kristina Roszynski presented ‘Residential Retrofit Opportunities in Conservation Areas: A Central London Case Study’, which explored the challenges faced in tackling the urgent need for large-scale retrofit within conservation areas in the UK. This InnovateUK-funded GreenSCIES research project focused on high heritage value, pre-1919 homes in the London Borough of Islington, and highlights fabric measures that could be taken to significantly reduce thermal energy demand, with the intention to inform local authorities and planning.
The GreenSCIES alliance collaborated with Nationwide Drones to generate a holistic Whole House Retrofit appraisal for the London Borough of Islington, using aerial mapping, aerial radiometric thermal, 3D modelling, retrofit assessment, EPC and heatloss calculations. Video by Nationwide Drones.
The research compared low-carbon heat supply options of Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) and Central GSHP (Heat Network) to reduce ‘hard to abate emissions’ in heritage homes. In order to understand homeowners’ attitudes and experiences of home decarbonisation in Islington, local residents were invited to participate in the study through focus groups.
April also saw the launch of a new website for the GreenSCIES Centre of Excellence in Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES), of which Cullinan Studio is a founding member. The Centre of Excellence, led by London South Bank University (LSBU), offers a range of services to help organisations investigate how they might achieve net zero.
The GreenSCIES research project brought together an alliance of 16 partners set to reduce carbon emissions, tackle fuel poverty, and create a pioneering sustainable energy system for the London Borough of Islington. GreenSCIES now exists as a Centre of Excellence to share its knowledge and ground-breaking accomplishments with other local communities and landowners. The alliance has a wide range of expertise related to the development 5th generation low-temperature heat networks which integrate heat, power and mobility.
If you would like to know how the Centre of Excellence can help your organisation decarbonise heat, power and mobility to create resilient communities, please get in touch.