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Energy-efficient retrofit of social housing in the UK: lessons learned from a Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) in Nottingham

Elsharkawy, Heba; Rutherford, Peter

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Authors

Heba Elsharkawy



Abstract

One of the long-term challenges outlined within the UK Government's Energy White Paper (2011) is to cut both greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy bills by improving household energy efficiency. As such, several energy-related initiatives have, in recent years, been promoted including the Community Energy Saving Programme. In this study, we explore how patterns of user consumption as influenced by occupant awareness and behaviour, can both positively and negatively influence policy initiative delivery. In so doing, we present the results from an extensive pre- and post-retrofit home energy use and performance survey of 150 properties located in Nottingham's Aspley ward, home of one of England's pilot CESP schemes. Our results show that whilst this specific initiative significantly improved home conditions and reduced energy consumption, it failed to achieve the predicted £300 annual savings on household energy bills. This was found to be largely attributed to occupants’ ingrained habits towards household energy use, higher comfort level preferences, (lack of) energy consumption awareness, and insufficient information provided to help residents better manage their home energy use following the retrofit. By exploring some of the core lessons learned from the survey, this research seeks to inform and improve the uptake and delivery of future retrofit initiatives.

Citation

Elsharkawy, H., & Rutherford, P. (2018). Energy-efficient retrofit of social housing in the UK: lessons learned from a Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) in Nottingham. Energy and Buildings, 172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.04.067

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 27, 2018
Online Publication Date May 26, 2018
Publication Date Aug 1, 2018
Deposit Date Jun 14, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Energy and Buildings
Print ISSN 0378-7788
Electronic ISSN 1872-6178
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 172
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.04.067
Keywords Home performance; Retrofit; Energy consumption;
Community energy saving programme (CESP); Behaviour
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/948694
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778818306157

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