Grand Designs Live: The Great British Refurbishment
Kevin McCloud outlines the scale of the task…
26 million homes contributing 27% of the country’s Co² emissions.
Government carbon reductions of 80% by 2050.
As you can see the scale of the challenge is huge and it was debated at the Great British Refurb, Grand Designs Live last Thursday. McClouds panel included Ed Milliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Paul King of the Green Building Council, and Colin Butfield of WWF.
Top: Campaign Logo for the Great British Refurb
It was very important for Ed Milliband to take a seat on this panel and to outline the political mechanism for a Great British Refurbishment to take place. It needs to happen now. The UK has been slow to make changes compared to the likes of Sweden, Germany and Canada. Milliband did not hide from the scale of the challenge.
“We need to move from incremental steps forward on household energy efficiency to a comprehensive national plan – the Great British refurb. Energy efficiency and low-carbon energy are the fairest routes to curbing emissions, saving money for families, improving our energy security and insulating us from volatile fossil fuel prices. We cannot afford not to act. Every home must be able to access the help and technology it needs, whether it be the installation of a ground or air source heat pump, solar-heating, solid wall insulation, or access to a district heating scheme. Most importantly, I want to ensure that help to meet the costs is available to people house by house, street by street, and that lower-income families don’t miss out.”
Milliband began by discussing the financial mechanism that must be in place and that the government are now assembling. The point is that with all things green they come with a sizeable capital cost. The public are put off by the idea that they have to spend money to save. This is especially relevant now that we in harder economic times. Therefore the government needs to pursue a holistic strategy. The government would like to give the home owner the chance to spread the cost of refurbishment. The capital cost would be offset against the value of the house; in affect mortgaging the environment.
The costs reductions would be supplemented by cuts in VAT on energy efficient products. There is also scope for rebates, grants, feed-in tariffs, and EU funding to subsidies the refurbishment. Then there is the potential for the private sector to become involved. Energy companies and even supermarkets, like Tesco, could pay the initial capital costs and then the homeowner can payback through the money saved in reduced energy costs. An energy mortgage in other words.
Legislation is already being changed to make things possible. One of the feelings now emerging from sustainable design is the improvement to reputation. Now we see cooperate giants jumping on the bandwagon as it is good PR. It is no surprise that the like of the big retailers are going green to attract the green pound. Let’s think about this in terms of the homeowner. The Home Information Packs (HIPS) must now have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The government wants to aim for homes to be C or above. At present the target is A-G. Imagine the stigma of a house that didn’t meet the certification. It wouldn’t be saleable and so the onus is on the occupier to improve. It may seem slightly dictatorial to take this approach but this is simple economics. People will do what they can to sell a home.
Photo by Graham Turner
’Street by street’. There must be an emphasis on the community taking charge of the agenda. This seems like the only workable solution for such a retrofit to take place. It seems like a massive task at hand:
By 2010 50000 homes need to be refurbished
By 2011 100000
By 2020 1.6 million
A lot in other words!
But by tailoring accounting to local diversity, applying a regionalist approach and looking to existing tried and tested technology then the retrofit can work. Just such an approach has been advocated by Kirklees Council through the Renewable Energy Fund which has funded several projects. Commercial examples are represented by British Gas’s Green Streets initiative.
So case studies are in place which shows that a community led retrofitting of homes can work. People are prepared to pack up belongings and leave their homes for the sake of this initiative. These pioneering examples can act as a framework for others to follow. Community groups can enact change through forums, skill sharing groups and initiatives. A priority area like that in Kirklees can act as a way to attract funding that the individual could never gain.
Kevin McCloud should be applauded for bringing the issue to the attention of a wider audience. Although we are sitting in the same convention hall that is touting patio heaters the massage delivered by Grand Designs should reach the audience that needs to hear it. Given the audience for the talk many are prepared to listen.
5 Responses to “Grand Designs Live: The Great British Refurbishment”
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Mark Ellery on May 9th, 2009
i honestly dont know how we plan to re insulate existing buildings… the disturbance caused to the inhabitants is too great to imagine it would be successful
applying an insulation cladding to the outside could be possible, but what about buildings that dont want to be wrapped in bubble wrap and rockwool (like the pretty ones at notting hill for example), what then?!
Robert Pike on May 10th, 2009
The greatest challenge to this is the impact on the resident. But just because it is a challenge doesn’t mean it impossible. It just means it calls for innovation and for holistic thinking. It is not just insulating it is all that comes with it.
This is potential big business and lost of work for Architects. There are many types of houses and each requires a bespoke solution. The most challenging are older buildings that have a historic importance, or are listed. This prompts a whole new industry.
So ignore the heartache of moving out for a few days and start thinking laterally. If this is done street by street then a consultation and education process should take place before hand. Residents should know what they are buying into and see what the savings could be. If the resident is saving x amount of monety over x years then moving for a few weeks will be a small price to pay? So where do people go? Hotels?
The street by street method also means that there is a greater voice to influence the process and to attract funding. For example a whole street could get a photovoltaic array that is much easier to may for on mass than in an individual circumstance.
Robert Pike on May 10th, 2009
http://www.levh.org.uk/
Mark here is an example of how to convert a Victorian dwelling in a conservation area. As a prototype it is a success.
Robert Pike on May 10th, 2009
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=453&storycode=3140072&channel=783&c=2
Here is another example of a post war house where a retrofit has occured.
Mark Ellery on May 15th, 2009
we should forget trying to insulate existing homes, it wont ever happen, it is not realistic. we cannot control what someone does with a home they own, i just dont think it will happen, ever…. look at how impossible it is to get people to separate their rubbish so it can be recycled, the public (in general) seem quite reluctant.. now tell them to move out and their house can be made smaller!!! not going to go down well is it?!
we should focus on changing attitudes:
no more “flicking a switch” to turn heating on instead of putting a jumper on. to do this gas prices need to be SOOOO HIGH that people think twice about using their heating system in spring and autumn.
also, attitudes need to change about using back gardens to produce food. we need to get the government to encourage it by promoting it, for example “dig for victory” was a slogan used during the war. without government encouragement why should “the people” be encouraged to grow their own?
food prices should be INCREASED to such a level that producing your own food is no longer optional but a necessity
and micro generation of power (solar/wind etc) needs a big boost. even if a small back garden solar panel only produces enough to power a mobile phone, surely it is a step in the right direction – as tesco says “every little helps”
finally, petrol prices should be pushed so high that cars/vans/bikes are only used for essential trips and business. casual driving to the supermarket, gym, train station would be eliminated. black cabs would be given petrol discount, busses would be faster because less cars would b on th road, and train stations would b better linked to other PUBLIC transport. usage of bicycles would rise, and alternative energy to fuel cars would be a realist choice because the price of them would be so low in comparison with petrol
to get people to change attitudes “carrot and stick” methods need to be employed immediately. and, though it is hard to accept, a lot of the “stick” method is necessary first….