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The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero has launched the Homes for Net Zero research programme to test practical solutions that can overcome barriers to home retrofit.
Homes for Net Zero is a research programme funded by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Energy Systems Catapult, E.ON, University College London, and Oxford University.
To gain real-world insight, the programme will use Energy Systems Catapult’s Living Lab – currently made up of over 2,500 homes across the UK – and its existing supporting digital infrastructure to recruit and monitor energy use in participating homes.
The research will particularly focus on owner-occupied, solid wall, gas-heated homes, which are seen as more complex to decarbonise.
A combination of in-home data monitoring and consumer research will help measure the impact of these measures on consumers and their homes. This holistic view will shape DESNZ’s understanding of the options for homeowners to transition to a low carbon home, while providing consumers with appealing and viable options for doing so, in the form of net zero roadmaps, the partners said.
The Catapult noted that the UK residential sector accounted for 23% of CO2 emissions in 2020. In England alone, there are approximately 14 million owner-occupied homes which rely on gas central heating, which is 57% of all homes. To achieve Net Zero by 2050, domestic properties will need to make the switch to a decarbonised heating source.
Rebecca Sweeney, Business Leader – Homes at Energy Systems Catapult said:
Decarbonising the UK’s domestic building stock is arguably one of the biggest, most urgent challenges we face as we transition to Net Zero. Consumer demand for low carbon alternatives and energy efficiency measures is rising. Despite this, many are confronted with high costs and complex decision making.
The first phase of the programme will see the project partners establish a monitoring project and gather evidence on the effectiveness of retrofit interventions that are low cost and low disruption that are lacking in real world evidence. These will comprise: draught proofing, loft insulation, heating efficiency improvements and behavioural measures.
The Catapult, E.ON, UCL, and Oxford University will implement and measure the impact from retrofit interventions in a selected number of Living Lab homes.
The project partners said they will use a real world test environment and a combination of in-home monitoring data (such as smart metering, air quality, and boiler output temperature data) and participant surveys and interviews to ‘build a quantifiable picture of some of the solutions to home retrofit, the likelihood of acceptance and the willingness of participants to engage with solutions.’
Chris Norbury, E.ON UK chief executive, said:
We’ve consistently said the greener choice should be the cheaper choice because we know that better homes are cheaper to run, they are healthier and more comfortable to live in, and by producing lower emissions they have less impact on our planet. Our aim with this project and our partners is to further understand how we can encourage and inspire customers, particularly those in harder to treat properties, to make those greener choices and make their homes fit for a more sustainable future.
Simon Elam, Director of the Smart Energy Research Lab, University College London, added:
It is clear that small, incremental, and low-cost measures will be important steps on the path to net zero for many homes across the UK. We are pleased to be working with the Energy Systems Catapult and other partners to deliver this project which will provide vital evidence to inform policy and facilitate innovation.
