HOUSEHOLD ENERGY CONSERVATION IN BRITISH HOUSING

Household Energy Conservation in British Housing

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of Household energy Conservation in British Housing in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on household energy conservation and its relation with Housing. The research also analyzes many aspects of the implications the UK have on improving the carbon emissions on new and existing dwellings with regards to the Kyoto Protocol. To investigate how the United Kingdom are set to meet the 20% less carbon emissions by 2010 and zero carbon by 2016.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Chapter 1: Introduction3

Outline3

Rationale3

Aim and Objectives3

Research Question3

Hypothesis3

Chapter 2: Literature Review3

Code for Sustainable Homes3

Background3

The Policy Context3

Housing3

Barriers to Conservation: New Homes3

Barriers to Conservation: Existing Homes3

Barriers to Conservation: Social Housing3

Overcoming the Inconservation of Our Homes3

Appliances and Lighting3

Overcoming Appliance/Lighting Inconservation3

Delivering Household energy Demand Reductions3

Political Leadership and Public Engagement3

Overview3

A step-change in sustainable home building practice3

Code for Sustainable Homes: A New National Standard3

A Set of Sustainable Design Principles3

A Standard Which Builds Upon Existing Systems3

A Mark of Quality3

The Sustainability Rating System3

Achieving a Sustainability Rating3

Assessing the Sustainability Rating3

Summary of Code benefits: Benefits for the Environment3

Benefits for Home Builders3

Benefits for Social Housing Providers3

Benefits for Consumers3

Code Standards3

Improved Building Requirements for New Build from 2001 - 20153

General Housing and Domestic Household energy Assumptions3

Kyoto Protocol: Negotiating the Protocol3

Fair Targets and Flexible Ways of Meeting Them3

Compelling Scientific Evidence3

Future3

Chapter 3: Methodology3

Research: Introduction3

Home Automation Technology3

Communications Media3

Control Devices3

Storage Media3

Home Automation Initiatives3

US Home Automation Initiatives3

European Home Automation Initiatives3

UK Home Automation Initiatives3

Credanet Home Control System3

Appliance Control3

Household energy Management Systems: The Focus on Electricity3

Gas3

Renewable household energy3

Chapter 4: Discussion3

Household energy Conservation and IT: Meeting Customers' Needs3

Retrofit or Newbuild3

Chapter 5: Conclusion3

The Relevance of Home Automation3

References3

Bibliography3

Appendix3

Chapter 1: Introduction

Outline

This research focuses on household energy conservation in British housing and comprises of the following chapters:

Introduction

Literature Review

Methodology

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Rationale

Domestic housing in the United Kingdom presents one of the major opportunities for achieving the 20% overall cut in the UK carbon dioxide emissions targeted by the Government for 2010.

Household energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom has been receiving increased attention over recent years. Key factors behind this are the UK Government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions, the projected 'household energy gap' in electricity generation, and the increasing reliance on imports to meet national household energy needs.

Along with road transport, domestic housing and household energy use is currently one of the major obstacles to achieving carbon reduction targets. Housing currently accounts for just over 30% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the UK, and by 2010 the emissions from housing are expected to have risen 18.5% above 1990 levels. This rise is projected to continue beyond 2010. While some action is being taken on new buildings, particularly due to the 2006 changes to the Building Regulations, relatively little is being done to improve the existing housing stock.

The 2006 Review of the Sustainability of Existing Buildings revealed that 6.1 million homes lacked an adequate thickness of loft insulation, 8.5 million homes had un-insulated cavity walls, and that there is a potential to insulate ...