Rethinking Housing Refurbishment :
Sustainable Refurbishment

Wates Living Space has recently started work on an innovative refurbishment scheme with the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

Rethinking housing refurbishment is a high profile project which has set itself tough targets. It aims to bring about an improvement in renovation standards nationally and raise refurbishment up the housing agenda.

Building Research Establishment: Clock TowerThe stable block, sited next to the BRE’s Housing Innovation Park at Watford posses all of the problems associated with pre 1919 housing including solid brick walls, sash windows, a clay tile roof, dampness, disrepair poor thermal performance and resident bats! As well as demonstrating best practice in energy efficient refurbishment with a bias for thermal mass, the specification makes “doing what’s best for the building” a criteria.

When complete the building will serve as an information and training centre for housing refurbishment that includes a large display area and training facilities.

Follow live progress of the scheme at www.bre.co.uk/housingrefurb

Refurbishment energy target
• SAP - minimum of 80
• CO2 - ≤35 kg/m2/yr
• Energy saving - greater than 60%
• Energy production (conventional) - high efficiency gas condensing boiler with state of the art zone controls
• Energy production (renewables) - at least 10% of energy demand

A full case study for the project is available by downloading the following report: Rethinking Housing Refurbishment