Retrofitting your home - Building smarter for a low-carbon world.

Published 13 February 2020

How smart architecture can improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Our former CE turned head of our Fair Energy Department, is pretty passionate about fair energy, addressing energy poverty and building smarter more energy-efficient homes.

Turns out, it runs in the family. Here is what he learnt over the Christmas period:

“My brother-in-law is an architect and lecturer in London. We’re both deeply involved in creating warm, dry homes and over the Christmas holidays, we had the chance to catch up on our passion during our family reunion. My experience is that generally the UK and Europe are well ahead of us in terms of building codes and regulations. They have less of a “throw on a jumper” mentality as we shiver in our wooden tents. Also from a carbon emissions perspective, the majority of home heating (space and water) in the UK is provided by gas. So any improvements in building efficiency also have a carbon benefit as well as reductions in cost and increases in comfort.

Scott recently upgraded the family home in St Albans (just outside London). While part of the focus was on upgrading the space to allow for better layout and comfort for a growing family, he also had an emphasis on overall energy efficiency. The use of heating, sunlight, insulation, double glazing and layout were all factors considered in creating a warmer, drier space. They also found that the tea-cosy effect (adding the majority of insulation to the roof and upper floor) produced noticeable increases in overall warmth. Most significantly perhaps were the estimates in reductions in heating fuels. A whopping 60% reduction in gas heating was simulated by comparison with an untreated identical house next door!

If you’re feeling enthused to try your own project, I’ve attached a brief produced by Scott on the construction and the results from a Masters project on the house. When you’re next considering upgrading your home give some serious consideration to the dynamics of heat, sunlight, ventilation and insulation.

For a small additional cost/m2 you can achieve some significant reductions in heating costs. As we drive to reduce the carbon emissions of all sectors of the citizenry in New Zealand, housing needs to play its part and thoughtful upgrades while keeping you warmer will benefit the planet as well”

Check out Scott’s project here + review summary of findings here