Empty Homes Refit For Greener Future
26 November 2010
Attendees at the opening seminar of the Retro-Tek project, held at the University's Enterprise Centre
We are delighted to be involved in this project and to work in partnership with colleagues at the University of Derby and EKV Design
”Professor Derek Cottrell, Head of the Lincoln School of Architecture, the University of Lincoln.
A new research project aims to help cut the numbers of vacant and derelict properties, regenerate impoverished city areas and reduce carbon emissions.
In national Empty Homes Week 2010 this week,21-27 November, the University of Derby, University of Lincoln and architectural design practice EKV Design Ltd of Derby are announcing the launch of their joint Retro-Tek project.
It will use their combined expertise to address design and procurement issues around empty homes, whilst at the same time refurbishing them to a high sustainable standard. Bringing them back into use will also aid the UK's commitment to reduce its level of polluting carbon gas emissions by 80% by 2050.
Around 65% of the UK's approximately 26million households were built more than 50 years ago and 80% of that housing stock will still be here in 40 years' time.
England has more than 600,000 empty homes, of those approximately 62,134 are in the East Midlands (according to the national Empty Homes Agency).
Refurbishing such properties rather than building new - and at the same time fitting them with modern energy saving, water and other environmental solutions - would aid the UK's commitment to reduce its carbon emissions. It is impossible to achieve this Government target through new build properties alone.
But there are complex issues surrounding the sustainable 'retro-fitting' of empty properties; ranging from design, procurement, legal and finance matters, to the potential health and wellbeing of the people who will eventually live in such highly insulated homes.
Dr Boris Ceranic - Programme Leader for Architectural Courses at the University of Derby's Faculty of Art, Design and Technology - leads the Retro-Tek project team looking into this issue.
He said: "Empty homes are certainly a persistent issue and we must persevere in finding a solution. It is socially, economically, environmentally and morally wrong to have such a large stock of empty houses.
"The Retro-Tek research project has brought together a large consortium of experts, with the aim of addressing the design and procurement issues around empty homes; whilst at the same time refurbishing them to a high sustainable standard, to bring them back into use and contribute to the 2050 target."
The University's academic staff are supported in the project by its business-to-business arm, University of Derby Corporate.
Retro-Tek is currently supported by the Sustainable Construction i-Net; funded through the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) and the European Regional Development Fund. The i-Net initiative aims to develop new and sustainable technologies in the region for the construction industry.
Colin Bridges, Architectural Technologist at EKV Design Ltd, said: "Designers, manufacturers and construction research institutes have worked hard to develop the products and techniques to retro-fit existing buildings, to a highly sustainable standard. The only issue that remains is how to incorporate this technology into the housing stock.
"The problem occurs with the disruption associated with a major retro-fit, such as removing plaster, demolishing dividing walls insulating floors etc, and the effect to the existing occupier. I and my colleague, Joe Grey at EKV Design Ltd, have recognised that the most ideal opportunity is to do this is with the existing empty houses."
Professor Derek Cottrell, Head of the Lincoln School of Architecture at the University of Lincoln, added: "We are delighted to be involved in this project and to work in partnership with colleagues at the University of Derby and EKV Design.
"The project has given us the opportunity to make links with local authority landlords and registered social landlords in Lincolnshire, to identify case studies of housing stock in both urban and rural locations. These partners will be working with us on the testing of a questionnaire with existing and potential future tenants, as we are keen to put an occupier perspective at the centre of this work.
"The Retro-Tek project fits well with the focus of the School's research. We will be making links with related areas of enquiry, such as flood and water risk management, and its impact on the planning and landscape development in Lincolnshire."
David Wallace - Director of Innovation at EMDA, which funds iNet - said: "The Retro-Tek project is an example of best practice, demonstrating that vacant and derelict properties can be brought up to the standard required to enable them to meet today's carbon reduction standards.
"It is one of the many groundbreaking projects that the Sustainable Construction iNet is supporting, ensuring that the East Midlands remains at the forefront of construction technologies."
For further information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
