The team behind a precision software tool that will support a UK-wide shift to a low carbon model within the new build and retrofitting markets were awarded £1.5 million by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Birmingham City University (BCU).
EcRoFit, the result of two years of research into zero-carbon retrofitting by Dr Shadi Basurra and Professor Mohamed Gaber of Birmingham City University, will use the funding to provide a new tool for assessing energy efficiency and renewable energy use in domestic and non-domestic buildings. The news follows announcements by the UK Government relating to a new ‘Green Industrial Revolution’ strategy, which includes a ban gas boilers in all newly built homes within three years, and a sales ban on petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
Combining building simulation software, Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, a database of product and building specifications and a web portal, the iRet tool produced by the EcRoFit team will enable businesses to identify the most effective renewable energy solutions, retrofit solutions, balancing requirements for low carbon emissions, cost and occupant comfort.
Local suppliers of renewable energy and energy efficiency products will be able to use the portal to specify their products and add them to the iRet system.
Dr Shadi Basurra, of the EcRoFit project team, said, “Over the past few years, the UK government has identified six million houses built with inefficient solid walls that require improvement; Greater Birmingham and Solihull is recognised as one of the worst areas in the UK for energy efficiency in its housing stock. Policy initiatives such as the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) have aimed to improve energy efficiency in homes.
The EcRoFit project aims to support 80 energy assessors and retrofit supply chain with the iRet tool for better energy improvement decisions. With an average of 34.5 assessments made a year by an individual assessor, it is estimated that the total properties that can be retrofitted through 80 assessors is 256 properties per year. That is equivalent to a potential reduction of a total of 391.68 tonnes of CO_2 per year.
“A selection of these will be scanned and assessed to create variations of retrofit recommendations from shallow to deep retrofit for the owners. The collected data will further enhance the tool by creating a database for future retrofit simulations and will be made available as a cloud-based online service. Retrofit providers will be engaged and receive training, consultancy and further assistance from Birmingham City University on how to use the proposed iRet tool to improve their retrofit offers.”
