As climate change facilitates an increase in severe meteorological phenomena, ensuring thermal comfort within residential environments has become exceedingly paramount. For occupants of social housing, who frequently originate from economically disadvantaged demographics, the implications are significantly amplified. A considerable proportion of these individuals reside in antiquated, inadequately insulated dwellings that are challenged in sustaining agreeable thermal conditions. This leads to serious risks, including overheating in the summer and chilling conditions in the winter. The occurrence of such extreme thermal conditions may yield significant adverse health consequences, particularly for the geriatric population and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
Retrofit Interventions in Social Housing
Retrofit interventions—upgrades designed to boost the energy efficiency of existing homes—are essential for addressing these issues. However, while these upgrades help tackle energy efficiency, they also bring their own set of challenges, particularly in managing overheating risks under future climate scenarios. This blog delves into how retrofit strategies can improve thermal comfort and manage overheating risks, with a specific focus on social housing in the UK.
Climate Change and the Vulnerability of Social Housing Residents
Residents of social housing often have limited resources to adapt to extreme weather conditions. As climate change engenders increasingly severe and extended heatwaves alongside harsher winter conditions, these populations encounter augmented vulnerabilities to heat-induced maladies and cold-associated health complications. Many social housing units were built with outdated construction methods and lack modern heating and cooling systems, exacerbating these issues. This makes retrofitting these homes a critical step in improving both thermal comfort and energy efficiency.
Balancing improvements in insulation and energy use while managing overheating risks is vital. Effective retrofitting must ensure that homes are not only better insulated but also capable of handling the higher temperatures projected for the future.
The Role of Retrofit Interventions in Social Housing
Retrofit interventions are designed to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings, cut down on carbon emissions, and improve overall thermal performance. Common retrofitting methodologies encompass the enhancement of insulation, the incorporation of energy-efficient fenestration, and the modernization of thermal regulation systems. The implementation of these strategies can yield a considerable impact, especially during the colder seasons, by diminishing heating expenditures and improving indoor thermal comfort.
However, while retrofitting can greatly improve winter comfort, it can also inadvertently increase the risk of overheating during the summer. Homes that are tightly sealed to minimize heat loss can become excessively hot when outside temperatures rise. This presents a unique challenge for designers and engineers who must improve energy efficiency without compromising summer comfort.
New UK Regulations on Overheating in New Builds
In response to rising temperatures, the UK government has introduced new building regulations aimed at minimizing overheating risks in new constructions. These regulations provide guidelines for assessing overheating risks and ensuring that new buildings can maintain a comfortable indoor climate even during heatwaves.
Nonetheless, these regulatory frameworks are exclusively applicable to newly erected structures and fail to consider issues pertaining to pre-existing or retrofitted social housing. With many older social housing units still in use, there is an urgent need to evaluate how retrofitting affects both thermal comfort and overheating risks, especially given the ongoing climate changes.
Evaluating Retrofit Strategies: A Case Study Using Design Builder
A recent study used Design Builder software to model the effects of various retrofit strategies on thermal comfort and overheating risks in a typical social housing unit. The study examined the impacts of upgrading the building fabric to comply with Part L of the UK Building Regulations and Passive House standards, which are designed to enhance energy efficiency and thermal performance.
The study assessed summer performance using CIBSE TM59 guidelines for overheating risk and evaluated winter thermal comfort using the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) index.
Key Findings
- Overheating in South-Facing Rooms: The study revealed that south-facing bedrooms were particularly susceptible to overheating, both currently and under future climate conditions. These rooms receive substantial direct sunlight, causing indoor temperatures to rise significantly during summer. The risk of overheating in these rooms was projected to increase up to tenfold under future climate scenarios, emphasizing the need for effective cooling solutions.
- Improved Winter Comfort: On a positive note, retrofitted homes demonstrated improved winter comfort. Enhanced insulation and reduced heat loss allowed these homes to maintain stable indoor temperatures during cold weather. This reduced the reliance on heating systems and improved comfort for residents during winter months.
- Challenges of Future Climate Scenarios: The study underscored the growing risk of overheating in retrofitted buildings as temperatures rise. Even well-insulated homes could become heat traps in the summer, placing vulnerable populations at increased risk.
Solutions to Mitigate Overheating in Retrofitted Homes
To tackle overheating risks in retrofitted homes, several strategies can be employed alongside traditional energy efficiency upgrades. These solutions aim to regulate indoor temperatures more effectively and prevent excessive heat buildup during hot weather.
- Shading Devices
Installing external shading devices, such as awnings, shutters, or green roofs, can help mitigate direct sunlight entering the building, particularly in south-facing rooms. These passive cooling measures can reduce solar heat gain and stabilize indoor temperatures.
- Mechanical Ventilation Systems
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems can manage indoor air quality and temperature by exchanging warm indoor air with fresh outdoor air. These systems are particularly effective in tightly sealed buildings, allowing for ventilation without compromising energy efficiency.
- Smart Home Technologies
Integrating smart home technologies, such as smart thermostats and automated window systems, can optimize indoor temperatures by responding to real-time conditions. These systems exhibit the proficiency to adjust thermal regulation, climatic control, and air circulation variables in accordance with atmospheric conditions and occupancy behaviors, thus contributing to the alleviation of excessive thermal buildup during the summer season and ensuring the maintenance of thermal comfort throughout the winter period.
Balancing Retrofit Success with Thermal Comfort
Achieving a balance between energy efficiency and thermal comfort in social housing retrofits is a complex challenge. While retrofitting can reduce energy consumption and enhance winter comfort, it may also increase overheating risks during warmer months, particularly in south-facing rooms.
To ensure that retrofits provide long-lasting comfort and safety, it’s essential to consider future climate scenarios and incorporate passive cooling and ventilation strategies alongside traditional upgrades. These solutions can help mitigate overheating risks and ensure that retrofitted homes remain comfortable throughout the year.
Conclusion
As climate change continues to shape global weather patterns, maintaining thermal comfort in social housing becomes increasingly vital. Retrofit strategies can improve energy efficiency and winter comfort, but they also present challenges related to overheating. By integrating passive cooling solutions, ventilation systems, and smart home technologies, housing authorities can create living environments that are both energy-efficient and comfortable. This approach ensures that vulnerable populations can enjoy safe, pleasant living conditions despite the changing climate.
Visit IEREK Press Journals to explore numerous published articles on these significant topics.
You can read more on these subjects in the following papers in Environmental Science and Sustainable Development Journal (ESSD):
– research paper titled “Evaluating Thermal Comfort and Overheating Risks in A Social Housing Prototype: As-Built Versus Retrofit Scenarios”
– ’s research paper titled: “Façade Solar Control and Shading Strategies for Buildings in the Mediterranean Region”