CIBSE Case Study Thamesmead Estate Refurbishment - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 07:55, 8 December 2020

2020-12-08T07:55:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:55, 8 December 2020
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	Aerogel is an emerging material in the UK construction market. This unique nano-porous translucent insulation material has the lowest thermal conductivity of any solid, retaining up to four times as much heat as conventional insulation, whilst being highly transparent to light and solar radiation. It is available commercially as translucent granules encapsulated within glass or multi-wall polycarbonate sheets, or as particles embedded within opaque insulation boards and blankets. The material can be applied to a building in a variety of ways.		Aerogel is an emerging material in the UK construction market. This unique nano-porous translucent insulation material has the lowest thermal conductivity of any solid, retaining up to four times as much heat as conventional insulation, whilst being highly transparent to light and solar radiation. It is available commercially as translucent granules encapsulated within glass or multi-wall polycarbonate sheets, or as particles embedded within opaque insulation boards and blankets. The material can be applied to a building in a variety of ways.

−	Linked to the property’s MVHR, extracted air from the kitchen and bathrooms is fed into the solar collector cavity, where it is heated by incoming solar radiation. This heat is then used to provide additional energy indirectly to heat the incoming fresh air supply to the property’s living room and bedrooms. Automatic flow and bypass controls maintain comfortable living conditions all year round.~~<br />~~	+	Linked to the property’s MVHR, extracted air from the kitchen and bathrooms is fed into the solar collector cavity, where it is heated by incoming solar radiation. This heat is then used to provide additional energy indirectly to heat the incoming fresh air supply to the property’s living room and bedrooms. Automatic flow and bypass controls maintain comfortable living conditions all year round.
−		+

		+	<br />
	Some promising monitored results have already been observed for this system, indicating that it will play an important role in heating the property during cold-sunny conditions. During a seven-day controlled test in October 2011, the solar collector outlet reached 45C on a cold sunny day, preheating the supply air in the mechanical ventilation system to 30C, enabling the house to maintain comfortable living conditions at 21-22C, without additional heating.		Some promising monitored results have already been observed for this system, indicating that it will play an important role in heating the property during cold-sunny conditions. During a seven-day controlled test in October 2011, the solar collector outlet reached 45C on a cold sunny day, preheating the supply air in the mechanical ventilation system to 30C, enabling the house to maintain comfortable living conditions at 21-22C, without additional heating.

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	* Well-being and Regeneration: Reflections from Carpenters Estate.		* Well-being and Regeneration: Reflections from Carpenters Estate.

−	[[Category:~~Projects_and_case_studies~~]] [[Category:DCN_Project_Knowledge]] [[Category:Publications_/_reports]] [[Category:Sustainability]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Project_Knowledge]] [[Category:DCN_Research,_Development_and_Innovation]] [[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:Publications_/_reports]] [[Category:Sustainability]]

Designing Buildings at 09:32, 27 February 2017

2017-02-27T09:32:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:32, 27 February 2017
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	Linked to the property’s MVHR, extracted air from the kitchen and bathrooms is fed into the solar collector cavity, where it is heated by incoming solar radiation. This heat is then used to provide additional energy indirectly to heat the incoming fresh air supply to the property’s living room and bedrooms. Automatic flow and bypass controls maintain comfortable living conditions all year round.<br />		Linked to the property’s MVHR, extracted air from the kitchen and bathrooms is fed into the solar collector cavity, where it is heated by incoming solar radiation. This heat is then used to provide additional energy indirectly to heat the incoming fresh air supply to the property’s living room and bedrooms. Automatic flow and bypass controls maintain comfortable living conditions all year round.<br />
−	~~<br />~~	+
−	Some promising monitored results have already been observed for this system, indicating that it will play an important role in heating the property during cold-sunny conditions. During a seven-day controlled test in October 2011, the solar collector outlet reached 45C on a cold sunny day, preheating the supply air in the mechanical ventilation system to 30C, enabling the house to maintain comfortable living conditions at 21-22C, without additional heating.	+
		+	Some promising monitored results have already been observed for this system, indicating that it will play an important role in heating the property during cold-sunny conditions. During a seven-day controlled test in October 2011, the solar collector outlet reached 45C on a cold sunny day, preheating the supply air in the mechanical ventilation system to 30C, enabling the house to maintain comfortable living conditions at 21-22C, without additional heating.

	A custom-built ‘aerogel door’ developed by Proctor Group was also integrated into this retrofit. The double leaf plant room door incorporates a 30 mm-thick opaque aerogel blanket, capable of achieving a central U-value as low as 0.39 W/sq m.K, or 0.65 W/sq m.K including the frames. In a separate application, 80 mm of aerogel was also applied to the ground-floor slab in a zone where the floor-to-ceiling height was limited.		A custom-built ‘aerogel door’ developed by Proctor Group was also integrated into this retrofit. The double leaf plant room door incorporates a 30 mm-thick opaque aerogel blanket, capable of achieving a central U-value as low as 0.39 W/sq m.K, or 0.65 W/sq m.K including the frames. In a separate application, 80 mm of aerogel was also applied to the ground-floor slab in a zone where the floor-to-ceiling height was limited.
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	* Post retrofit: 14 kg CO2/sq m/year		* Post retrofit: 14 kg CO2/sq m/year
	* Predicted saving: 87%		* Predicted saving: 87%
−
−	~~-----~~
−	~~For the full article on the CIBSE website [http://www.cibse.org/knowledge/case-studies/cibse-case-study-thamesmead-estate-refurbishment click here.]~~

	= Find out more =		= Find out more =
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	* Well-being and Regeneration: Reflections from Carpenters Estate.		* Well-being and Regeneration: Reflections from Carpenters Estate.

−	[[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:Publications_/_reports]] [[Category:Sustainability]]	+	[[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:DCN_Project_Knowledge]] [[Category:Publications_/_reports]] [[Category:Sustainability]]

Designing Buildings at 10:35, 7 January 2017

2017-01-07T10:35:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:35, 7 January 2017
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		+	--[[User:CIBSE\|CIBSE]] 15:38, 29 July 2014 (BST)

−	~~--[[User%3ACIBSE\|CIBSE]] 15:38, 29 July 2014 (BST)~~	+	Article from the June 2012 edition of the [http://www.cibsejournal.com/ CIBSE Journal] written by Mark Dowson
−		+
−	Article from the June 2012 edition of the [http://www.cibsejournal.com/ CIBSE Journal] written by Mark Dowson~~<br/>~~	+

	= Introduction =		= Introduction =
Line 24:		Line 23:
	Aerogel is an emerging material in the UK construction market. This unique nano-porous translucent insulation material has the lowest thermal conductivity of any solid, retaining up to four times as much heat as conventional insulation, whilst being highly transparent to light and solar radiation. It is available commercially as translucent granules encapsulated within glass or multi-wall polycarbonate sheets, or as particles embedded within opaque insulation boards and blankets. The material can be applied to a building in a variety of ways.		Aerogel is an emerging material in the UK construction market. This unique nano-porous translucent insulation material has the lowest thermal conductivity of any solid, retaining up to four times as much heat as conventional insulation, whilst being highly transparent to light and solar radiation. It is available commercially as translucent granules encapsulated within glass or multi-wall polycarbonate sheets, or as particles embedded within opaque insulation boards and blankets. The material can be applied to a building in a variety of ways.

−	Linked to the property’s MVHR, extracted air from the kitchen and bathrooms is fed into the solar collector cavity, where it is heated by incoming solar radiation. This heat is then used to provide additional energy indirectly to heat the incoming fresh air supply to the property’s living room and bedrooms. Automatic flow and bypass controls maintain comfortable living conditions all year round.<br/><br/>Some promising monitored results have already been observed for this system, indicating that it will play an important role in heating the property during cold-sunny conditions. During a seven-day controlled test in October 2011, the solar collector outlet reached 45C on a cold sunny day, preheating the supply air in the mechanical ventilation system to 30C, enabling the house to maintain comfortable living conditions at 21-22C, without additional heating.	+	Linked to the property’s MVHR, extracted air from the kitchen and bathrooms is fed into the solar collector cavity, where it is heated by incoming solar radiation. This heat is then used to provide additional energy indirectly to heat the incoming fresh air supply to the property’s living room and bedrooms. Automatic flow and bypass controls maintain comfortable living conditions all year round.<br />
		+	<br />
		+	Some promising monitored results have already been observed for this system, indicating that it will play an important role in heating the property during cold-sunny conditions. During a seven-day controlled test in October 2011, the solar collector outlet reached 45C on a cold sunny day, preheating the supply air in the mechanical ventilation system to 30C, enabling the house to maintain comfortable living conditions at 21-22C, without additional heating.

	A custom-built ‘aerogel door’ developed by Proctor Group was also integrated into this retrofit. The double leaf plant room door incorporates a 30 mm-thick opaque aerogel blanket, capable of achieving a central U-value as low as 0.39 W/sq m.K, or 0.65 W/sq m.K including the frames. In a separate application, 80 mm of aerogel was also applied to the ground-floor slab in a zone where the floor-to-ceiling height was limited.		A custom-built ‘aerogel door’ developed by Proctor Group was also integrated into this retrofit. The double leaf plant room door incorporates a 30 mm-thick opaque aerogel blanket, capable of achieving a central U-value as low as 0.39 W/sq m.K, or 0.65 W/sq m.K including the frames. In a separate application, 80 mm of aerogel was also applied to the ground-floor slab in a zone where the floor-to-ceiling height was limited.
Line 43:		Line 44:

	= Specification =		= Specification =
−	*~~'''~~Walls: ~~'''~~300 mm of Permarock EPS insulation to achieve U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K. Yellow render with aluminium fins	+
−	*~~'''~~Roof: ~~'''~~New roof with airtight membrane, services core and PIR 300mm insulation for U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K	+	* Walls: 300 mm of Permarock EPS insulation to achieve U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K. Yellow render with aluminium fins
−	*~~'''~~Windows:~~'''~~ Passivhaus-certified Nordan N-tech triple glazing with U-value of 0.8 W/sq m.K and solar G-value of 0.5	+	* Roof: New roof with airtight membrane, services core and PIR 300mm insulation for U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K
−	*~~'''~~Doors: ~~'''~~Passivhaus-certified front door. Plant door custom built by Proctor Group with U-value of 0.65 W/sq m.K	+	* Windows: Passivhaus-certified Nordan N-tech triple glazing with U-value of 0.8 W/sq m.K and solar G-value of 0.5
−	*~~'''~~Ground floor: ~~'''~~U-value of 0.15 W/sq m.K throughout. Spacetherm aerogel insulation used in zone with 80mm space available	+	* Doors: Passivhaus-certified front door. Plant door custom built by Proctor Group with U-value of 0.65 W/sq m.K
−	*~~'''~~Air tightness:~~'''~~ Pro Clima airtight tapes, sealants and sleeves used throughout.	+	* Ground floor: U-value of 0.15 W/sq m.K throughout. Spacetherm aerogel insulation used in zone with 80mm space available
−	*''Target:'' 0.6 cu m/sq m/hr @50 Pa.	+	* Air tightness: Pro Clima airtight tapes, sealants and sleeves used throughout.
−	*''Best on-site'': 3.5 cu m/ sq m/hr @50 Pa	+	* Target: 0.6 cu m/sq m/hr @50 Pa.
−	*~~'''~~Ventilation: ~~'''~~Nuaire MRXBOX95B-WH1 unit with summer bypass. Extract air for heat recovery boosted by aerogel solar collector	+	* Best on-site: 3.5 cu m/ sq m/hr @50 Pa
−	*~~'''~~Heating:~~'''~~ Warm air supplied by MVHR. System boiler with small-zoned radiators for peak winter conditions Hot water: 500 litre cylinder fed by electric immersion and boiler. A 3 sq m vacuum tube collector meets 42% of load	+	* Ventilation: Nuaire MRXBOX95B-WH1 unit with summer bypass. Extract air for heat recovery boosted by aerogel solar collector
−	*~~'''~~Electricity generation:~~'''~~ Ten PV panels generate 2.30 kW peak. Array is ballasted using aluminium frame to avoid piercing insulation.	+	* Heating: Warm air supplied by MVHR. System boiler with small-zoned radiators for peak winter conditions Hot water: 500 litre cylinder fed by electric immersion and boiler. A 3 sq m vacuum tube collector meets 42% of load
−	*~~'''~~Lights and appliances: ~~'''~~Low energy fittings and light bulbs with A-rated appliances specified throughout property	+	* Electricity generation: Ten PV panels generate 2.30 kW peak. Array is ballasted using aluminium frame to avoid piercing insulation.
		+	* Lights and appliances: Low energy fittings and light bulbs with A-rated appliances specified throughout property

	= Predicted CO2 emissions =		= Predicted CO2 emissions =
−	*'''Baseline:''' 111 kg CO2/sq m/year
−	*'''Post retrofit: '''14 kg CO2/sq m/year
−	*'''Predicted saving:''' 87%

−	~~----~~	+	* Baseline: 111 kg CO2/sq m/year
		+	* Post retrofit: 14 kg CO2/sq m/year
		+	* Predicted saving: 87%

		+	-----
	For the full article on the CIBSE website [http://www.cibse.org/knowledge/case-studies/cibse-case-study-thamesmead-estate-refurbishment click here.]		For the full article on the CIBSE website [http://www.cibse.org/knowledge/case-studies/cibse-case-study-thamesmead-estate-refurbishment click here.]

−	[[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]]	+	= Find out more =
−	[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]	+
−	[[Category:Sustainability]]	+	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
		+
		+	* Ballymun mass housing and regeneration.
		+	* Brownfield land.
		+	* Enterprise zones.
		+	* Estate Regeneration National Strategy.
		+	* Gentrification.
		+	* Housing contribution to regeneration.
		+	* Housing zones.
		+	* Land banking.
		+	* Local development orders.
		+	* Masterplanning.
		+	* Placemaking.
		+	* Regeneration.
		+	* Sink estate regeneration plans.
		+	* Thamesmead Housing Estate.
		+	* U+I.
		+	* Urban decay.
		+	* Well-being and Regeneration: Reflections from Carpenters Estate.
		+
		+	[[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:Publications_/_reports]] [[Category:Sustainability]]

2.223.56.201 at 21:54, 22 November 2014

2014-11-22T21:54:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:54, 22 November 2014
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	--[[User%3ACIBSE\|CIBSE]] 15:38, 29 July 2014 (BST)		--[[User%3ACIBSE\|CIBSE]] 15:38, 29 July 2014 (BST)

−	Article from the June 2012 edition of the [http://www.cibsejournal.com/ CIBSE Journal] written by Mark ~~Downson~~<br/>	+	Article from the June 2012 edition of the [http://www.cibsejournal.com/ CIBSE Journal] written by Mark Dowson<br/>

	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

Designing Buildings at 15:53, 30 July 2014

2014-07-30T15:53:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:53, 30 July 2014
Line 1:		Line 1:

−	--[[User~~:CIBSE~~\|CIBSE]] 15:38, 29 July 2014 (BST)	+	--[[User%3ACIBSE\|CIBSE]] 15:38, 29 July 2014 (BST)

	Article from the June 2012 edition of the [http://www.cibsejournal.com/ CIBSE Journal] written by Mark Downson<br/>		Article from the June 2012 edition of the [http://www.cibsejournal.com/ CIBSE Journal] written by Mark Downson<br/>
		+
		+	= Introduction =

	The transformation of a hard-to-treat 1960s property into a low carbon home involved the use of some unusual technology.		The transformation of a hard-to-treat 1960s property into a low carbon home involved the use of some unusual technology.
Line 14:		Line 16:
	Like millions of buildings across the UK, the estate consists largely of properties with solid walls, single glazing and uninsulated floors/roofs responsible for a significant amount of wasted heat. In its unrefurbished state, the hard-to-treat property suffered from moisture-related problems such as condensation, rising damp and mould growth, made worse by insufficient heating and high rates of fuel poverty. It possessed a mixture of singleglazed and old double-glazed windows, unused ground-floor garages (too narrow for modern cars) and a first-floor walkway.		Like millions of buildings across the UK, the estate consists largely of properties with solid walls, single glazing and uninsulated floors/roofs responsible for a significant amount of wasted heat. In its unrefurbished state, the hard-to-treat property suffered from moisture-related problems such as condensation, rising damp and mould growth, made worse by insufficient heating and high rates of fuel poverty. It possessed a mixture of singleglazed and old double-glazed windows, unused ground-floor garages (too narrow for modern cars) and a first-floor walkway.

−	== Transformation ==	+	= Transformation =

	Through extensive retrofit works, the property has been transformed into a ‘near Passivhaus’ six-bedroom house, super-insulated with external cladding, triple glazing throughout and high levels of air tightness. Fresh air is provided by a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR). Ten photovoltaic (PV) panels and a vacuum tube collector on the roof provide renewable electricity and water heating. Expected U-values and other projected performance data are shown in the table below.		Through extensive retrofit works, the property has been transformed into a ‘near Passivhaus’ six-bedroom house, super-insulated with external cladding, triple glazing throughout and high levels of air tightness. Fresh air is provided by a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR). Ten photovoltaic (PV) panels and a vacuum tube collector on the roof provide renewable electricity and water heating. Expected U-values and other projected performance data are shown in the table below.
Line 26:		Line 28:
	A custom-built ‘aerogel door’ developed by Proctor Group was also integrated into this retrofit. The double leaf plant room door incorporates a 30 mm-thick opaque aerogel blanket, capable of achieving a central U-value as low as 0.39 W/sq m.K, or 0.65 W/sq m.K including the frames. In a separate application, 80 mm of aerogel was also applied to the ground-floor slab in a zone where the floor-to-ceiling height was limited.		A custom-built ‘aerogel door’ developed by Proctor Group was also integrated into this retrofit. The double leaf plant room door incorporates a 30 mm-thick opaque aerogel blanket, capable of achieving a central U-value as low as 0.39 W/sq m.K, or 0.65 W/sq m.K including the frames. In a separate application, 80 mm of aerogel was also applied to the ground-floor slab in a zone where the floor-to-ceiling height was limited.

−	== Evaluation ==	+	= Evaluation =

	Onsite work at the property finished in March this year, and a large family is expected to move in over the next one to two months.		Onsite work at the property finished in March this year, and a large family is expected to move in over the next one to two months.
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	Mark Dowson is a research engineer within Buro Happold's sustainability and physics team, London. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.02.007 Read the full scientific paper on the aerogel solar collector’s performance].		Mark Dowson is a research engineer within Buro Happold's sustainability and physics team, London. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.02.007 Read the full scientific paper on the aerogel solar collector’s performance].

−	== Specification ==	+	= Specification =
−		+	*'''Walls: '''300 mm of Permarock EPS insulation to achieve U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K. Yellow render with aluminium fins
−	'''Walls: '''300 mm of Permarock EPS insulation to achieve U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K. Yellow render with aluminium fins	+	*'''Roof: '''New roof with airtight membrane, services core and PIR 300mm insulation for U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K
−		+	*'''Windows:''' Passivhaus-certified Nordan N-tech triple glazing with U-value of 0.8 W/sq m.K and solar G-value of 0.5
−	'''Roof: '''New roof with airtight membrane, services core and PIR 300mm insulation for U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K	+	*'''Doors: '''Passivhaus-certified front door. Plant door custom built by Proctor Group with U-value of 0.65 W/sq m.K
−		+	*'''Ground floor: '''U-value of 0.15 W/sq m.K throughout. Spacetherm aerogel insulation used in zone with 80mm space available
−	'''Windows:''' Passivhaus-certified Nordan N-tech triple glazing with U-value of 0.8 W/sq m.K and solar G-value of 0.5	+	*'''Air tightness:''' Pro Clima airtight tapes, sealants and sleeves used throughout.
−		+	*''Target:'' 0.6 cu m/sq m/hr @50 Pa.
−	'''Doors: '''Passivhaus-certified front door. Plant door custom built by Proctor Group with U-value of 0.65 W/sq m.K	+	*''Best on-site'': 3.5 cu m/ sq m/hr @50 Pa
−		+	*'''Ventilation: '''Nuaire MRXBOX95B-WH1 unit with summer bypass. Extract air for heat recovery boosted by aerogel solar collector
−	'''Ground floor: '''U-value of 0.15 W/sq m.K throughout. Spacetherm aerogel insulation used in zone with 80mm space available	+	*'''Heating:''' Warm air supplied by MVHR. System boiler with small-zoned radiators for peak winter conditions Hot water: 500 litre cylinder fed by electric immersion and boiler. A 3 sq m vacuum tube collector meets 42% of load
−		+	*'''Electricity generation:''' Ten PV panels generate 2.30 kW peak. Array is ballasted using aluminium frame to avoid piercing insulation.
−	'''Air tightness:''' Pro Clima airtight tapes, sealants and sleeves used throughout.	+	*'''Lights and appliances: '''Low energy fittings and light bulbs with A-rated appliances specified throughout property
−		+
−	''Target:'' 0.6 cu m/sq m/hr @50 Pa.	+
−		+
−	''Best on-site'': 3.5 cu m/ sq m/hr @50 Pa	+
−		+
−	'''Ventilation: '''Nuaire MRXBOX95B-WH1 unit with summer bypass. Extract air for heat recovery boosted by aerogel solar collector	+
−		+
−	'''Heating:''' Warm air supplied by MVHR. System boiler with small-zoned radiators for peak winter conditions Hot water: 500 litre cylinder fed by electric immersion and boiler. A 3 sq m vacuum tube collector meets 42% of load	+
−		+
−	'''Electricity generation:''' Ten PV panels generate 2.30 kW peak. Array is ballasted using aluminium frame to avoid piercing insulation.	+
−		+
−	'''Lights and appliances: '''Low energy fittings and light bulbs with A-rated appliances specified throughout property	+
−		+
−	~~== Predicted CO2 emissions ==~~	+
−		+
−	~~'''Baseline:''' 111 kg CO2/sq m/year~~	+

−	'''Post retrofit: '''14 kg CO2/sq m/year	+	= Predicted CO2 emissions =
		+	*'''Baseline:''' 111 kg CO2/sq m/year
		+	*'''Post retrofit: '''14 kg CO2/sq m/year
		+	*'''Predicted saving:''' 87%

−	~~'''Predicted saving:''' 87%~~	+	----

−	For the full article on the CIBSE ~~homepage~~ [http://www.cibse.org/knowledge/case-studies/cibse-case-study-thamesmead-estate-refurbishment click here.]	+	For the full article on the CIBSE website [http://www.cibse.org/knowledge/case-studies/cibse-case-study-thamesmead-estate-refurbishment click here.]

		+	[[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]]
	[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]		[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]
	[[Category:Sustainability]]		[[Category:Sustainability]]

CIBSE at 14:38, 29 July 2014

2014-07-29T14:38:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:38, 29 July 2014
Line 1:		Line 1:

−	Article from the June 2012 edition of the CIBSE Journal written by Mark Downson <br/>	+	--[[User:CIBSE\|CIBSE]] 15:38, 29 July 2014 (BST)
		+
		+	Article from the June 2012 edition of the [http://www.cibsejournal.com/ CIBSE Journal] written by Mark Downson<br/>

	The transformation of a hard-to-treat 1960s property into a low carbon home involved the use of some unusual technology.		The transformation of a hard-to-treat 1960s property into a low carbon home involved the use of some unusual technology.
Line 38:		Line 40:
	Mark Dowson is a research engineer within Buro Happold's sustainability and physics team, London. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.02.007 Read the full scientific paper on the aerogel solar collector’s performance].		Mark Dowson is a research engineer within Buro Happold's sustainability and physics team, London. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.02.007 Read the full scientific paper on the aerogel solar collector’s performance].

−	== Specification ==	+	== Specification ==

	'''Walls: '''300 mm of Permarock EPS insulation to achieve U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K. Yellow render with aluminium fins		'''Walls: '''300 mm of Permarock EPS insulation to achieve U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K. Yellow render with aluminium fins
Line 71:		Line 73:

	'''Predicted saving:''' 87%		'''Predicted saving:''' 87%
		+
		+	For the full article on the CIBSE homepage [http://www.cibse.org/knowledge/case-studies/cibse-case-study-thamesmead-estate-refurbishment click here.]

	[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]		[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]
	[[Category:Sustainability]]		[[Category:Sustainability]]

CIBSE: Created page with " Article from the June 2012 edition of the CIBSE Journal written by Mark Downson
The transformation of a hard-to-treat 1960s property into a low carbon home involved the u..."

2014-07-28T13:32:38Z

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Article from the June 2012 edition of the CIBSE Journal written by Mark Downson <br/>

The transformation of a hard-to-treat 1960s property into a low carbon home involved the use of some unusual technology.

The Thamesmead housing estate in south-east London is a key example of the often poorly insulated and undervalued concrete dwellings built in the 1960s. It was featured in the Stanley Kubrick film, A Clockwork Orange, and more recently on television in E4’s Misfits. But its other claim to fame is that it is now part of ‘Retrofit for the Future’, a government-funded competition launched by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) in 2009.

The aim of the competition was to develop innovative, scalable, whole-house refurbishment strategies with potential to reduce 80% of CO2 emissions in low-rise social housing. Following two intense design phases, 86 teams across the UK were shortlisted and awarded £150,000 to implement their strategies with occupied dwellings. The selected properties are now being monitored over a two-year period after refurbishment, with the findings feeding into research papers and nationwide design guidance.

As a shortlisted team, Buro Happold collaborated with Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects, Gallions Housing Association, Martin Arnold Associates surveyors and Axis Europe contractors to super-insulate a pre-cast concrete end-of-terrace house on the Thamesmead estate.

Like millions of buildings across the UK, the estate consists largely of properties with solid walls, single glazing and uninsulated floors/roofs responsible for a significant amount of wasted heat. In its unrefurbished state, the hard-to-treat property suffered from moisture-related problems such as condensation, rising damp and mould growth, made worse by insufficient heating and high rates of fuel poverty. It possessed a mixture of singleglazed and old double-glazed windows, unused ground-floor garages (too narrow for modern cars) and a first-floor walkway.

== Transformation ==

Through extensive retrofit works, the property has been transformed into a ‘near Passivhaus’ six-bedroom house, super-insulated with external cladding, triple glazing throughout and high levels of air tightness. Fresh air is provided by a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR). Ten photovoltaic (PV) panels and a vacuum tube collector on the roof provide renewable electricity and water heating. Expected U-values and other projected performance data are shown in the table below.

A key innovation of the Thamesmead project is a highly-insulated solar-air collector prototype integrated into the external insulation on the south façade. The prototype consists of a cavity containing a black perforated metal sheet to absorb solar radiation and a highly insulated translucent cover, consisting of polycarbonate panels fitted with high-performance granular ‘aerogel’ insulation, to reduce heat losses to the outside.

Aerogel is an emerging material in the UK construction market. This unique nano-porous translucent insulation material has the lowest thermal conductivity of any solid, retaining up to four times as much heat as conventional insulation, whilst being highly transparent to light and solar radiation. It is available commercially as translucent granules encapsulated within glass or multi-wall polycarbonate sheets, or as particles embedded within opaque insulation boards and blankets. The material can be applied to a building in a variety of ways.

Linked to the property’s MVHR, extracted air from the kitchen and bathrooms is fed into the solar collector cavity, where it is heated by incoming solar radiation. This heat is then used to provide additional energy indirectly to heat the incoming fresh air supply to the property’s living room and bedrooms. Automatic flow and bypass controls maintain comfortable living conditions all year round.<br/><br/>Some promising monitored results have already been observed for this system, indicating that it will play an important role in heating the property during cold-sunny conditions. During a seven-day controlled test in October 2011, the solar collector outlet reached 45C on a cold sunny day, preheating the supply air in the mechanical ventilation system to 30C, enabling the house to maintain comfortable living conditions at 21-22C, without additional heating.

A custom-built ‘aerogel door’ developed by Proctor Group was also integrated into this retrofit. The double leaf plant room door incorporates a 30 mm-thick opaque aerogel blanket, capable of achieving a central U-value as low as 0.39 W/sq m.K, or 0.65 W/sq m.K including the frames. In a separate application, 80 mm of aerogel was also applied to the ground-floor slab in a zone where the floor-to-ceiling height was limited.

== Evaluation ==

Onsite work at the property finished in March this year, and a large family is expected to move in over the next one to two months.

Since last August, and for another 18 months, a package of wireless monitoring equipment is being used to capture important information such as the internal temperature and CO2 levels within the house, power consumption of the MVHR, energy generation of the PV panels and solar water heater, as well as the total consumption of gas, electricity and water.

A roof-mounted solar radiation sensor, combined with temperature and humidity sensors inside the aerogel solar collector cavity and MVHR ductwork, provide a unique insight into this system’s performance.

Ultimately, the success of the retrofit will rely heavily on the occupants’ comfort and satisfaction levels, combined with how well they engage with new technologies and conserve energy at home. Interviews will be held to facilitate this process. Nevertheless, through this deep retrofit, the expected value of the property will have increased greatly, particularly due the extended living space, new kitchen-diner and additional two bedrooms.

There is scope to retrofit millions of buildings to make deep cuts in CO2 emissions. However, effective implementation is no small task. Solutions must account for the variety in age, size, quality, composition, function, asset value and social value across the existing building stock, as well as the different needs, expectations and budgets of homes owners and occupiers. Understanding which solutions are cost effective and deliver real savings in-use is imperative.

Mark Dowson is a research engineer within Buro Happold's sustainability and physics team, London. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.02.007 Read the full scientific paper on the aerogel solar collector’s performance].

== Specification ==

'''Walls: '''300 mm of Permarock EPS insulation to achieve U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K. Yellow render with aluminium fins

'''Roof: '''New roof with airtight membrane, services core and PIR 300mm insulation for U-value of 0.1 W/sq m.K

'''Windows:''' Passivhaus-certified Nordan N-tech triple glazing with U-value of 0.8 W/sq m.K and solar G-value of 0.5

'''Doors: '''Passivhaus-certified front door. Plant door custom built by Proctor Group with U-value of 0.65 W/sq m.K

'''Ground floor: '''U-value of 0.15 W/sq m.K throughout. Spacetherm aerogel insulation used in zone with 80mm space available

'''Air tightness:''' Pro Clima airtight tapes, sealants and sleeves used throughout.

''Target:'' 0.6 cu m/sq m/hr @50 Pa.

''Best on-site'': 3.5 cu m/ sq m/hr @50 Pa

'''Ventilation: '''Nuaire MRXBOX95B-WH1 unit with summer bypass. Extract air for heat recovery boosted by aerogel solar collector

'''Heating:''' Warm air supplied by MVHR. System boiler with small-zoned radiators for peak winter conditions Hot water: 500 litre cylinder fed by electric immersion and boiler. A 3 sq m vacuum tube collector meets 42% of load

'''Electricity generation:''' Ten PV panels generate 2.30 kW peak. Array is ballasted using aluminium frame to avoid piercing insulation.

'''Lights and appliances: '''Low energy fittings and light bulbs with A-rated appliances specified throughout property

== Predicted CO2 emissions ==

'''Baseline:''' 111 kg CO2/sq m/year

'''Post retrofit: '''14 kg CO2/sq m/year

'''Predicted saving:''' 87%

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