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The last brick has been laid and energy
firm E.ON is beginning research at its 2016 House - the
replica 1930's home on campus at the University of Nottingham
- to learn energy efficiency lessons from the failings
of the past.
Three years of research will investigate how the typical
suburban home could be upgraded to help reduce CO2
emissions so that similar homes could achieve carbon neutral
status - the UK government's aim for all new homes after
2016. |
Using the latest technology to monitor energy consumption,
the project team will assess the benefits of low carbon technologies
which can be fitted to existing homes, as well as working
out how to make best use of materials, renewable energy technology
and energy management systems.
Dave Clarke, Head of Research and Development at E.ON, said
- "Building our 1930's house is the first stage in this process.
Many old homes lose energy through poor design and insulation,
but we can use this test facility to see exactly what improvements
can be made now and in the future.
"Millions of us live in homes like this. Our homes are responsible
for almost a third of the CO2 emitted
in the UK, so any benefits we identify here could go on to
lower the bills and the carbon footprint of millions of families."
In its first year, the E.ON 2016 House will be used as a
typical 1930's semi, providing 'starting point' data
relevant to many properties of the era. These homes were designed
with open fires, single glazed windows, inefficient gas and
electric water heating and very little insulation.
"Most of the UK housing stock of 25 million properties will
still be occupied in 2050" - said Dave. "This project will
identify some of the low carbon measures we can retrofit to
these homes to significantly reduce our carbon emissions."
The house is bristling with more than 100 sensors to monitor
energy use, temperature and humidity, making it one of the
most sophisticated research houses in the world. The occupants
themselves will wear the latest tracking devices to pinpoint
the energy cost and CO2 emissions of
their activity as well as helping understand how the living
space is used and how it changes as the property is upgraded.
At present, 60 percent of the total CO2
emissions from UK homes arise from heating and cooking using
natural gas, with electricity for lighting and appliances
causing the remainder.
E.ON's 2016 house is part of the University's Creative Energy
Homes initiative, which will see a total of six sustainable
homes built on the campus in the near future.
Dr Mark Gillott, Research and Development Manager for Creative
Energy Homes, said - "This project is a unique test-bed for
us to trial and evaluate both simple energy-saving steps and
innovative approaches and technologies.
"It will expand our teaching and research facilities,
in the university's School of the Built Environment, to address
climate change issues and give our students the opportunity
to work with state-of-the-art technologies and techniques
for improving existing buildings."
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