Abstract

Abstract:

The UK has set the ambitious legally binding target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% compared to 1990 levels by 2050. In addition, according to the 2011 UK Carbon Plan “all buildings will need to have an emissions footprint close to zero by 2050”. 27% of energy use in the UK is attributed to domestic buildings and this is likely to increase in the future as a result of population growth and increased comfort expectations. 85% of existing dwellings will still be standing in the 2050s. Therefore, significant improvements to the thermal efficiency and associated energy performance of the existing housing stock will need to take place in order to meet these challenging targets. This presentation will draw from the findings of a series of research projects to present the methods, tools and processes required to optimise the process of energy retrofitting. It will focus on:

(a) determining the initial focus for mass retrofit, both geographically and within a home (the ‘low hanging fruits’),

(b) identifying the most efficient combinations of retrofit packages on the basis of energy use, environmental impact and fuel cost,

(c) assessing the potential unintended consequences of retrofit for indoor overheating, air quality and mould growth and suggesting measures to mitigate them,

(d) discussing the changes required in the building supply chain, as well as existing social norms, and

(e) evaluating the existing policy instruments and financial mechanisms available to support the rollout of a mass housing retrofit programme.

Speakers:

Dr Anna Mavrogianni – Lecturer at the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, UCL

Anna Mavrogianni holds a Diploma in Architectural Engineering from the School of Architecture in the National Technical University of Athens, an MSc with distinction in Environmental Design and Engineering and a PhD in Built Environment Science, both from UCL . Her PhD explored the impact of the London urban heat island on domestic space heating demand, indoor overheating and heat-related health risk.

Dr Rokia Raslan – Lecturer at the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, UCL

Rokia Raslan trained as an architect specialising in environmental and energy efficient design and has completed a PhD degree at the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, UCL that examines the applicability of building energy modelling in the context of legislative compliance. Rokia has several years of experience in academia, through her work as an assistant lecturer at Alexandria University in Egypt. She has also been extensively involved in UK sustainable design consultancy through the development of energy efficient design strategies for a number of international projects and master plans. Rokia is currently a board member of the CIBSE Building Energy Simulation Group and a member of the Green Deal (Task 2) Advisory Group.