Is Retrofitting The Answer?
The government has been called upon to bring in a national retrofit strategy to decarbonise the UK’s existing buildings, which would help the country make the move to a greener economy and help improve the repair and maintenance side of the construction industry.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s today programme, Mark Reynolds – co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and Mace chief executive – explained that the built environment is responsible for more than 40 per cent of carbon emissions worldwide, so prioritising carbon reduction would have a significant impact on society over the long term, Construction News reports.
Last year, the CLC published the second iteration of its National Retrofit Strategy, setting out how the construction industry can collaborate with the government to retrofit the 28 million existing homes around the country.
Energy and water inefficiency in these properties must be tackled if the UK is to achieve its carbon reduction targets and this strategy is intended to help support the government to build back better and greener following the pandemic.
Analysis shows that if just over £5 billion was invested by the government come the end of this parliament, it would generate revenue of over £12 billion, unlock 100,000 jobs and drive additional GDP of up to £21 billion.
Retrofitting simply means making a property more energy efficient, delivering reductions in carbon emissions, energy use and utility bills. It can also help improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
Properties can be retrofitted either room by room or by doing the whole house in its entirety. Every step of the way, the aim is to increase energy efficiency through the addition of new technology and design features.
Typically, retrofitting will involve improving the thermal performance and comfort of a property significantly, as well as improving the fabric of the building itself.
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