An investigation into retrofitting the pre-1919 owner-occupied UK housing stock to reduce carbon emissions

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Kaveh, B. ORCID: 0000-0002-6741-3542, Mazhar, M.U. ORCID: 0000-0003-2749-6408, Simmonite, B., Sarshar, M. ORCID: 0000-0002-4115-9793 and Sertyesilisik, B., 2018. An investigation into retrofitting the pre-1919 owner-occupied UK housing stock to reduce carbon emissions. Energy and Buildings, 176, pp. 33-34. ISSN 0378-7788

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.06.038

Abstract

In the UK, housing has been identified as a significant sector for contributing to the 80% reduction in emissions over the 1990 baseline by 2050, required by the Climate Change Act of 2008. However, pre-1919 housing stock is the least energy efficient and consequently poses challenges to meeting this target. Using a mixed methods approach, the current study demonstrates that, in actuality, there is a significant potential for reducing emissions among this sub-sector of housing, and that the major barriers to energy efficiency retrofits concern a lack of funding, the payback period for the investment, disruption to home life and finding a trustworthy and skilled installer. Moreover, this study finds that homeowners are motivated primarily by the desire to improve home comfort and aesthetics along with a reduction in energy bills rather than in reducing carbon emissions. The paper concludes with recommendations for improving the viability of retrofitting pre-1919 homes through enhanced financial resources, policy support and the promotion of social and economic benefits.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Energy and Buildings

Creators:

Kaveh, B., Mazhar, M.U., Simmonite, B., Sarshar, M. and Sertyesilisik, B.

Publisher:

Elsevier

Date:

October 2018

Volume:

176