Recently, Matt Roberts from East Sussex College Group delivered an excellent CPD on ‘Net Zero and Retrofit in the UK’. We hosted this event at The Dock Hub and invited both clients and consultants to attend. Overall, the event was a great success. Matt received excellent feedback following his presentation.
To provide context, the Climate Change Act 2008 defines ‘Net Zero’ as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 100% of 1990 levels. This represents a significant target to stop the earth’s atmosphere from warming up. This matters because we rely on a stable temperature for our daily lives. This includes protecting crop growth and water supplies and preventing species extinction.
Furthermore, human behaviour emits gases that cause the global mean temperature to rise. Carbon dioxide remains the most prolific of these gases. Consequently, governments, scientists, and environmentalists now focus heavily on ‘decarbonisation’.
The Built Environment
In order to ‘decarbonise’, we must reduce our reliance on burning fossil fuels that release $CO_2$. Within the built environment, we can achieve this by focusing on existing housing stock. Notably, over 50% of these homes were built before 1970. As a result, builders did not include insulation, and the majority of these properties show poor thermal performance.
By tackling this housing stock, we can install and upgrade insulation to make homes more thermally efficient. Additionally, we can improve ventilation to prevent damp and condensation. These upgrades improve habitability and allow for the installation of sustainable technology. Such systems generate sustainable electricity or improve energy performance to end the reliance on fossil fuels.
Legislation and Retrofitting
Currently, legislation exists to push both domestic and commercial landlords to improve existing building stock. This includes requiring buildings to meet minimum energy efficiency regulations. For instance, domestic properties currently require an EPC rating of ‘E’, though this will rise in the future. Commercial buildings also need a minimum EPC of ‘E’ starting this month. Ultimately, the only way to improve these ratings is to ‘retrofit’.
In the past, government funding schemes were often unregulated or saw poor take-up. This led to various incorrect approaches for unsuitable housing and created issues later on. However, the new PAS 2035 now helps control the retrofitting process. It requires professional accountability and qualified training for all projects.
Moving Forward
One of the key principles of PAS 2035 is ‘fabric first’. This means retrofitting works should always tackle the existing fabric of the building first. Otherwise, savings from installing heat pumps will be lost through draughty windows and uninsulated roofs. While all social housing must currently use PAS2035, these principles apply to any building.
Supporting this mission, East Sussex College recently opened their training hub in Eastbourne. This centre provides courses designed to upskill the workforce and support a more sustainable future.
Looking ahead, Focus Consulting will soon enrol one of our senior surveyors on the Level 5 diploma. This course covers retrofit co-ordination and risk management. This qualification will provide the skills needed to become a retrofit coordinator serving Brighton & Hove and the surrounding areas.
