Whole House Retrofit unveiled in Dartford this week could prove key to reducing future Carbon Emissions

Created on 20.07.2010

Leading architectural practice PRP, has designed an innovative whole house retrofit solution at 98 Willow Road in Dartford, as part of the Technology Strategy Board's (TSB) Retrofit for the Future Competition. The project which was completed this week, was in conjunction with Dartford Borough Council and Connaught Partnerships Ltd (who undertook the construction and installation process) and aimed to adapt this post second world war suburban terrace house to significantly reduce its energy consumption and carbon emissions through the incorporation of innovative materials and technologies.

Retrofit is an area which is enjoying renewed interest since the Government pledged to cut 80% of UK carbon emissions by 2050. Domestic emissions from residential buildings will need to be cut by 33% over the next ten years if the Government is going to meet these targets. The 98 Willow Road project is a pilot to test various technologies, prior to being rolled out on a larger scale.

The 98 Willow Road retrofit has achieved the following key improvements:

• Improved the Energy Performance Rating to A
• Significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (below 17kg/m2/yr) and primary energy consumption (115kWh/m2/yr)
• Substantial improvements to the thermal performance of the external fabric
• Significantly improved the external appearance of the house through new insulated render and new triple glazed windows and doors

PRP's Environmental Director comments: "PRP's aim was to develop an energy reduction solution which was innovative yet replicable, as well as being economically viable. The design proposals had to be simple to construct, operate and maintain and we believe the final product achieves these aspirations.

"Retrofit cannot be ignored in the UK as it may be that all UK homes will need to be near zero carbon by 2050, in order to meet the Government's targets. We need to work together to trial innovative solutions; such as those used in Willow Road, to substantially reduce our carbon emissions and change the way we live."

Steve Sheldon, Head of Low Carbon Technologies, Connaught Partnerships comments: "Connaught sees this retrofit project as a fundamental step in testing new methods and innovative products that will make a difference to our clients. Making homes energy efficient is only part of the solution if we are to significantly reduce our carbon emissions. We believe that one of the greatest challenges lies in changing people's behaviour. With this in mind we have developed a resident's handbook, which clearly illustrates how people can reduce carbon emissions and save money by making changes to their everyday lifestyles."

Paul Dosad, Head of Housing, Dartford Borough Council adds: "Dartford Borough Council is extremely proud of the works that have been undertaken to our property and wholeheartedly support the TSB pilot. As a Council we are committed to reduce the energy used by our tenants and residents and the carbon emissions of our properties. We are looking forward to moving our new tenant into the property in order that we can assess the benefits of the technologies installed.

"Longer term Dartford Borough Council would like to replicate elements of this initiative and install them into its other properties and offer it to the private sector. However, this can only be done once the new and innovative technologies involved in this project are tested in a domestic environment to see what effect it has on the lives of the families living with them on a daily basis, over a long time frame, and this is why the TSB pilot is vital in terms of informing our future planning and investment decisions."

A short animation film compiled by Dartford Borough Council, Connaught Partnerships Ltd and PRP, which explains the retrofit process and how it was applied at 98 Willow Road, can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deKo8oic_rQ