Reducing uncertainty in the market for (low carbon) refurbishment: a web-tool that brings together home-owners, housing providers, manufacturers, installers and policy makers

Panel: Panel 4. Residential and commercial sectors: delivering lower energy use in buildings

Author:
Darryl Croft, Association for the Conservation of Energy, United Kingdom

Abstract

Rising fuel prices, an obligation to alleviate fuel poverty, and challenging CO ₂ targets are increasingly important factors defining the refurbishment needs of the UK's ageing housing stock.

With the availability of microgeneration technologies and more conventional energy conservation products, householders face myriad refurbishment options. Yet it is frequently unclear which measures are appropriate for each household, with the suppliers often overselling the performance of their products, whilst implicitly or explicitly offering scepticism over different technologies. Since the performance of products varies markedly across different houses, the information they give is not necessarily untrue. However, the uncertainty presents a barrier to the uptake of the most effective low-carbon refurbishment measures in homes.

To fill this information gap, the T-ZERO tool has been developed. Utilising a building energy model based engine with over 100,000 modelled buildings, the tool enables users to define their home, then provides them with tailored optimal ‘packages' that offer the best performance, measured across eight different parameters. Once the user has selected their preferred package, they are linked to local suppliers of the measures contained within it, with the ability to request a quote within the tool.

This paper explores how householders can use this tool to inform and implement their refurbishment plans and share their experiences with others; how housing providers can use it to inform strategic asset management decisions regarding upgrades, procurement, poverty alleviation and environmental goals; and how policy makers can use it to address decisions concerning the extent and nature of support for measures.