zero carbon retrofits to social homes

cepheus

Sounds so easy, but is this suitable for all dwellings? Also there are no costs quoted.

Ikea kitchens help sell insulation to Dutch – and UK could be next Dutch consortia

Energiesprong could give zero carbon retrofits to social homes across England, using innovative wrap-around insulated panels, if EU funding is approved

More than 100,000 homes across the UK could be given a carbon-neutral retrofit by 2020 if the EU approves funding for a ground-breaking green social housing project this month.

The first pilot projects are due to start within a year on council estates and housing association properties in London, Birmingham and southern England and are set to save 1,950GWh of electricity.

The Energiesprong (Energy Leap) initiative involves completely wrapping houses with insulated panel-facades that snap on like Lego. Insulated roofs adorned with 24 high-efficiency solar panels each are fastened on top, while heat pumps, hot water storage tanks and ventilation units are stored in garden sheds.

On the Woonwaard housing estate near Amsterdam, tenants whose homes have already received the upgrade say that the final effect is like living inside a ‘tea cosy’.

rogerblack

In principle - you could do it reasonably simply and cheaply, albeit with a large initial investment.
A factory that turns out laminated cut-to-order panels of bolt-together insulation, pre-rendered or otherwise finished in your choice of colours.
These are lightweight enough that they can 'free stand' - with little extra support other than being tied to an existing wall, and come with appropriate cut-outs for windows and doors.

Is this going to be appropriate or suitable for all dwellings - no.
Can you make it much, much cheaper and faster to install - yes.
Only cladding parts of buildings really doesn't work though - you need to do the whole building - and 'right to buy' has screwed this up quite a lot.