Introduction
Norwood Road consists of 22 semi detached houses constructed between 1919 and 1939 currently owned by Dudley MBC. The Black County Housing Association provided a consultancy service to support the local authority to improve the energy efficiency of the dwellings. A refurbishment programme was completed in 2002 to reduce the tenant’s energy bills and provide a healthy living environment.
What was involved?
This project involved Dudley MBC making a commitment to improve the energy efficiency of some of their housing stock and applying the learning points from other recently completed renovation projects. Tenants’ consultations took place through well attended meetings and home visits to communicate the benefits to tenants. The final element of the project was sourcing and installing a suite of measures to improve the energy efficiency of the homes and the application of renewable energy technologies.
Thermal insulation
The ability of the houses to retain heat was improved through applying 90mm of the highest performance thermal insulation to the exterior of the solid walls and covered in render. 55mm of insulation was installed between the rafters and another 40mm under the sloping ceilings.
The ability of the roof to retain the heat was improved through fitting mineral fibre insulation; a versatile type of insulation. The doors and windows were replaced to help reduce the drafts and energy bills.
Flat Plate Correctors
Flat plate correctors were installed on all the properties with south facing roof. These are water-filled heat-absorbing panels in an insulated and double-glazed enclosure. The water that is heated in the panels is circulated through a heat-exchange coil in a conventional hot water cylinder, reducing the work that has to be done by the central-heating boiler by up to 50% over a year.
Passive Stack Ventilation
Passive stack ventilation was installed to draw fresh air into the building through using a combination of air flow and the natural air movement to lift the moist state air from the kitchen and bathroom to the roof ridge level where it escapes into the atmosphere. Fresh air is drawn to the property through trickle vents in the windows and doors. This type of technology is practical for major re-fits and is very energy efficient as no fans or controls are needed.
Outcomes
This project was one of the most successful retrofits in the country. The Black Country Housing Group have applied some of the key learning points to other domestic energy efficiency housing projects to enable more tenants to reduce their energy bills.
The tenants benefited from better living conditions that had considerable benefits for some of the residents such as improvements in their health meaning they gain qualifications and employment.
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