Analyzing how we currently use energy in our homes and then incorporating energy efficiencies measures is one of the first steps on the journey to making energy use more sustainable. Corrective measures often include retrofits for old homes, including energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, solar panels, and air source heat pumps. Nottingham City Council in the United Kingdom has been rolling out such retrofits as part of its Greener HousiNG scheme.
The Greener HousiNG team has been working to retrofit both privately owned and social homes, supporting the city’s ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2028 and the City Council’s strategy to reduce instances of fuel poverty. According to government data, domestic buildings are the largest contributor to Nottingham’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. More than 350,000 tonnes of CO2 are produced by homes in the city per year.
Highlights of the Greener HousiNG scheme so far include:
- Installing retrofit measures on 1,036 homes between 2019 and 2022
- Reducing carbon emissions from domestic properties by 7% between 2017 and 2020
- Having a pipeline of a further 829 homes to be improved in 2023
- Improving the Energy Performance Certificates in homes in the city from 40% to 45% in one year
The City Council’s work has been recognized and has now been shortlisted for the Innovation in Delivering Sustainability and Social Value category at The MJ Awards. These awards celebrate the work of local authorities that are making a difference to the lives of residents across the UK.
Wayne Bexton, Director of Environment and Sustainability at Nottingham City Council, said: “I am delighted that we have been shortlisted for an MJ Award for our Greener HousiNG scheme. This vital scheme is improving homes in the city, making them more comfortable for residents while also reducing energy bills and carbon emissions.”
Angie Lillistone, Head of Carbon Reduction Projects and Policy and Nottingham City Council, said: “The challenge we have in Nottingham is that many of the homes were built before 1980 and have solid walls which makes them difficult to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We have found innovative ways to tackle this issue, for example by trialling a variety of approaches to whole-house retrofit measures which have explored the use of a range of new technologies to bring homes towards net-zero standards. We are also supporting residents to reduce their bills and emissions further by installing low carbon technologies, like solar panels and air source heat pumps, and fabric measures, such as external wall insulation.”
The global energy crunch and rising energy prices has put more focus on efficient use of energy, energy security and the accelerated adoption of renewable energy. This has seen the surge in adoption of heat pumps in several countries. Last year heat pump sales surpassed gas furnaces in the US for the first time. Globally, sales of heat pumps grew by 11% in 2022, according to the latest IEA analysis, marking a second year of double-digit growth for the central technology in the world’s transition to secure and sustainable heating. In Europe, heat pumps enjoyed a record year, with sales growing by nearly 40%.
Images courtesy of Nottingham City Council
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