Closing the housing energy performance gap is vital if UK is to meet carbon targets
Evidence generated by the Zero Carbon Hub and the housebuilding industry has demonstrated the existence of a ‘Performance Gap’ between the energy use of new homes as-designed and the actual use once the building is completed. Project director Ross Holleron explains.
If constructed homes require more energy than predicted at design, there is a risk to the UK’s carbon reduction commitments. It may also result in higher than expected household energy bills, undermining buyer confidence in new low carbon homes.
As we approach 2016, housebuilders are producing higher performing homes: in order to gain market advantage, confidence is needed that they truly perform as intended.
"There are a number of recurring themes: unclear allocation of responsibility; poor communication of information; and a lack of understanding, knowledge and skills."
Since January 2013 the Zero Carbon Hub has carried out an extensive study to help understand and tackle this problem, to support an industry ambition that by 2020 at least 90% of all new homes meet or perform better than their design. Initially, there was a misconception that the gap was simply caused by inaccuracies in energy modelling software and poor construction practice on site.
The Evidence Review Report showed that a gap can be influenced by issues at all stages of the housebuilding process.
There are a number of recurring themes: unclear allocation of responsibility; poor communication of information; and a lack of understanding, knowledge and skills. Fifteen issues were found to be of particular concern, ranging from planners not understanding energy challenges to site managers not prioritising energy related issues in quality checks.
The End of Term Report set out in July 2014 recommendations and solutions to tackle this. Crucially, collaboration is needed between government and industry, so it was encouraging that Stephen Williams MP shared the stage with a number of industry leaders at the launch event, and announced his interest in providing further financial support for work in this area. The range of recommendations shows the scale of the challenge, and the priority actions provide a clear route forward.
"Key stakeholders from both industry and government ..need to collaborate closely, quickly and decisively to achieve the UK carbon reduction targets and maintain the progress made to date."
These include improving energy literacy across the sector, with a certification scheme to demonstrate ability, which the government could require for public land developments from 2017.
Secondly, an industry owned and maintained Construction Details Scheme should be set up, to provide assured, as-built energy performance for major building fabric junctions and systems. The housebuilding industry, with government support, must also create innovative and commercially viable methods to test and measure the energy use of completed homes, so that their actual performance can be known.
In addition, government needs to strengthen the compliance regime, clearly indicate that it expects the industry to voluntarily tackle the Performance Gap without additional regulation, and provide key funding to stimulate industry action.
Find out about the political parties views on air pollution at the EIC conference “Establishing a Green Agenda” on 2 December. More details here
Key stakeholders from both industry and government have been thoroughly engaged with the Performance Gap project, reflecting their clear commitment to tackle this problem.
Now they need to collaborate closely, quickly and decisively to achieve the UK carbon reduction targets and maintain the progress made to date.