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Domestic retrofit means making changes to an existing home to improve its energy efficiency, comfort, and sustainability. This can include upgrades like adding insulation, installing energy-efficient windows, improving heating systems, or fitting solar panels.
The UK government has faced enormous challenges in retrofitting existing buildings towards curbing domestic emission , which is a crucial process to meeting these climate change targets and its Net Zero Agenda.
The UK's Net Zero Agenda is a national commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by balancing the amount of greenhouse gases it emits with the amount it removes from the atmosphere, achieving no overall increase in emissions.
The key aim of the agenda is to cut emissions, promote renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and invest in carbon removal technologies with the intention of combating climate change, protecting the environment, and supporting a sustainable economy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This ambition translates to achieving an 80% reduction in domestic emissions by 2050.
This agenda requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving technological innovation, policy interventions, behavioural changes, and significant investments across various sectors. Retrofitting existing homes thus comes along as part of this grand strategy.
Aside from meeting legislative demands, the goal of domestic retrofit is also to reduce energy use, lower bills, and make the home more environmentally friendly.
The impact of energy use in dwellings on greenhouse gas emissions is significant, as residential buildings contribute a substantial portion of total emissions. The proportion of greenhouse emissions from the domestic sector alone is about 28%, which primarily comes from utilising fossil fuels for heating, lighting, appliances, and other activities.
But, requesting landlords to retrofit their buildings and invest in renewables will be particularly challenging without the government’s direct intervention and assistance, especially during this period when energy cost continues to increase and fuel poverty is on the rise, worsened with the abolishment of the Winter Fuel Support.
Fuel poverty is determined by household income and energy costs. Fuel poverty is defined in terms of a low-income high-cost indicator. A household is poor if its energy costs are higher than the national average and after paying the fuel costs its residual income is below the poverty line.
Determining the rate of household fuel poverty requires consideration of factors such as building geographical location, building size, occupancy patterns, efficiency of appliances and systems, income of occupants, energy prices, and the energy efficiency of housing stock.
But, in addressing fuel poverty, the baseline of all these considerations lies in the improvement of existing homes which are becoming obsolete due to degradations as a result of the inability of the building fabrics to meet new building standards.
Every building, old or new has to contend with balancing heat generation with the rate at which heat is lost because Heat constitutes a very massive aspect of energy generation in homes.
Heat loss in a building is when warmth escapes from the inside of the building to the colder outside environment. This happens naturally due to temperature differences and is influenced by how well the building is insulated and sealed. Heat loss makes it harder and more expensive to keep a building warm.
For instance, the typical percentage of heating in a home is about 60% while that of hot water is about 24%.
Retrofitting the homes and installing new building services equipment and systems can reduce this rate significantly, thereby saving cost and reducing greenhouse emissions.
Heat losses in a typical dwelling involve understanding how and where the building loses heat, leading to increased energy consumption for heating. Heat losses occur through various building elements, and identifying these areas helps in implementing energy-efficient measures.
Areas to watch include Windows - which is about 10% of total heat loss; Doors and Floors- which are about 15% of total heat loss; Roof- which is about 25% of total heat loss and Walls-which is about 35% of the total heat loss.
The Role of Domestic Retrofitting
Domestic retrofitting plays a pivotal role in reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions.
Furthermore, retrofitting has economic benefits. It stimulates job creation within the construction and energy sectors, fostering economic growth..jpeg)
Improved energy efficiency directly translates to reduced utility bills for homeowners. Investments in retrofitting can result in long-term cost savings by curbing energy waste and optimizing energy use.
Beyond financial gains, domestic retrofitting enhances the comfort and liveability of homes. Upgraded insulation and efficient heating systems ensure consistent temperatures throughout the house, eliminating drafts and cold spots. This creates a more comfortable and healthier living environment.