Evidence on Tackling Hard to Treat Properties

1. Evidence on Tackling Hard to Treat Properties Prof. Sue Roaf, Heriot-Watt University Dr. Keith Baker, SISTech Ltd Andrew Peacock, Heriot-Watt University August 2008

2. Outline • Fuel Poverty in Scotland • Types of Hard to Treat Properties • Recommendations • Conclusions

3. Fuel Poverty in Scotland • In 2008 the number of Scottish households is around 2.3 million, of which 543,000 are living in fuel poverty • These households contain 1 million of the 5 million population of Scotland – 20% of the Scottish population are currently in fuel poverty

4. Types of Hard to Treat Properties • Solid wall properties • Tenements • High rise properties • Timber frame homes pre-1982 • Flat roof homes • Mansard roof homes • Park Homes (and residential mobile homes)

5. Recommendations: Solid Wall • Primary • Develop a cost efficient set of interventions appropriate to the individual requirements of the solid wall house type • Secondary • Eliminate cold bridging • Eliminate infiltration • Experiment with new insulation types • Reduce energy use through options applicable to all / most HtT properties

6. Recommendations: Tenements • Primary • Aim to covered all blocks by factoring agreements that include carbon factoring • Promote and subside secondary glazing and draughtproofing • Amend Tenements Scotland Act to mandate for carbon factoring • Secondary • Use carbon factoring to offer energy audits for individual flats • Consider promoting and subsiding the construction of draught lobbys and the installation of under-floor insulation • Consider micro-CHP schemes specifically for groups of tenements

7. Recommendations: High Rise • Primary • Develop a robust process for evaluating the cost efficiency of high rise investments • Externally insulate • Consider lift and water energy • Use CHP systems • Include management issues in the solutions • Secondary • Consider trialling CHP and building energy services to other local buildings • Combine with other Authorities to find ways of reducing over-cladding costs • Life cycle cost all decisions

8. Recommendations: Timber Frame • Primary • Target to promote the uptake of external and internal cladding suitable for timber frame walls • Secondary • Reduce energy use through options applicable to all / most HtT properties

9. Recommendations: Flat Roof • Primary • Target to promote the installation of warm deck flat roofs on all suitable properties • Secondary • Where installing a warm deck is not possible promote the installation of internal cladding on ceilings

10. Recommendations: Mansard Roof • Primary • Target to promote the upgrading by adding blown fibre insulation behind the tiles on the lower section • Treat upper sections as for normal sloping roofs where access allows • Secondary • Promote the installation of internal cladding on the walls and ceilings of rooms contained within the mansard

11. Recommendations: Park and Residential Mobile Homes • Primary • Promote internal wall, ceiling and floor insulation, external cladding / render, and the sealing of leaks around doors and windows • Legislate to ensure landlords of rented homes bring insulation up to recommended levels • British Standard 3632:1995 could be revised • Secondary • Double glazing will benefit some homes • An insulated sloping roof may be an option, but offering subsidies may not be cost-effective • Promote solar thermal and micro-renewables

12. Recommendations: All Hard to Treat • Primary • Promote secondary glazing and draughtproofing • Promote the replacement of old boilers, encourage annual servicing and installation of improved controls • Upgrade electric heating systems to the most energy efficient designs • Target with information on the savings from using low energy light bulbs and replacing old appliances with ‘A-rated’ and above • Consider trialling a scheme to subsidise the above • Prioritise older properties and households on low incomes

13. Recommendations: All Hard to Treat • Secondary • Consider pushing ahead with a programme to install smart meters in all Scottish homes • Promote community CHP schemes • Encourage the uptake of micro-CHP and renewables, and consider revising planning and conservation legislation where feasible

14. Conclusions • Scottish councils and the Scottish Government have an opportunity to work together to facilitate the refurbishment of all types of Hard to Treat Housing in which many of those in fuel poverty are living • Tenements and high rise blocks are in need of urgent attention • Our homes need to become buildings that we live with, rather than just buildings that we live in