31 Byron Square Retrofit, Cambridge

Client: Hill Partnerships & Cambridge City Council

Role: Architects and Environmental Consultants

Number 31 Byron Square in Cambridge is a whole house retrofit, designed by PRP, which was part of the Technology Strategy Board's national Retrofit for the Future programme.

The three-bedroom, semi detached property has undergone a complete low carbon retrofit to significantly reduce its energy consumption and carbon emissions through using innovative materials and technologies. The project also highlighted some key challenges which need to be addressed in future retrofit projects, such as delivery issues and funding.

Byron Square is a 1940's steel frame house owned by Cambridge City Council, which following the retrofit, now achieves an Energy Performance 'A' Rating. The solution maximises the thermal performance of the fabric and significantly reduces the reliance on fossil fuels. Cambridge University's Energy Department is undertaking extensive analysis on a range of social issues including the effect of occupancy numbers on energy consumption, and the Energy Savings Trust is undertaking environmental and social monitoring of the house over the next two years, so that findings from projects such as this can influence future retrofit solutions.

The Byron Square retrofit includes the following innovative solutions:

• Photovoltaics and solar thermal panels in matching frames
• Aerogel insulated drylining
• Triple glazed windows with thermal control layer
• Full LED lighting
• Flue gas heat recovery
• Waste water heat recovery system
• Low-energy decentralised whole house ventilation
• Energy display system - interactive touch screen interface for education and awareness