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A RESEARCH PROJECT TO HELP HOUSEBUILDERS MEET THE CHALLENGE OF DELIVERING LOW COST, LOW CARBON HOUSING

Building for 2050, funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), highlights the need to construct housing which is low carbon through its design rather than through reliance on technology.
 
The project, which was delivered by AECOM, examined the drivers, attitudes, barriers and challenges relating to low cost, low carbon housing. It considered both the pull and push factors relating to delivery of housing fit for the future. Increasing the numbers of such homes being built will contribute to the ambitious targets within the Clean Growth Strategy and reduce energy use and bills for residents, while delivering attractive and comfortable homes.
 
The AECOM-led team captured the experiences of those directly involved with four low carbon housing developments - reviewing the designs and observing construction activities; assessing the performance of sample dwellings; and determining the performance of dwellings in use.
There was also a significant social research element to the project. The team identified the views of funders, developers, and design teams - those actively involved in low carbon housing and those currently not.  Views from contractors and site-based staff building low carbon homes were also collected. 
 
A sample of residents’ attitudes and expectations were identified prior to them moving into the selected developments, followed by feedback once they moved in and again once they had spent some months in their new homes. 
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To provide context, views were also sought from wider stakeholders – both professionals and consumers. 
 
Observations from the design and construction stages and analysis of the performance, together with the opinions provided, inform the steps required to accelerate the uptake of low cost, low carbon homes. 
 
The research was published in December 2022 and will help shape future policy. Below you can download the Executive Summary, the full report and watch the final findings webinar; 
  • Introduction and overview of the project Roger Littlewood Project Manager, Energy Research Team, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 
  • Introduction to project team and summary of the drivers and barriers for low carbon homes Alison Crompton, Regional Director, Sustainability, Buildings + Places, AECOM
  • Case study findings – what are the practical implications for low carbon homes?  Tom Dollard, Partner - Sustainability and Innovation, Pollard Thomas Edwards
  • Findings from the post-construction testing and monitoring period Ian Mawditt, Building Performance Researcher, Fourwalls  
  • Social research – approach and findings Alex Lerczak, Social and Market Research Team Consultant, AECOM
Film 1  - Project introduction
Film note - due to coronavirus and site completions the research project has been extended a further year
Film 2 - The Research Team 
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updated 12 December 2022