Low energy 
refurbishments & 
environmental 
regeneration –

Phil Thompson

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – lessons from 
Northern Europe

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

•

Mission also visited 4 refurbishment 
schemes

–

Augustenborg, Malmo

–

Hedebygade, Copenhagen

–

Brunck Quarter, Ludwigshafen

–

Hoheloogstrasse, Ludwigshafen

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Augustenborg

•

1950’s built estate for shipyard workers

•

Became rundown & needed radical renewal

Initiatives included:

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Renewables

•

External Insulation

•

Green Roofs

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Recycling & neighbourhood regeneration

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Green roofs

PV as solar 

shading

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Football pitch/Ice Rink

Recycling station & 

green roof

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Hedebygade

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350 apartments, built in 1890’s

•

Area improvement, retaining existing facades

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Innovative measures

–

PV, within facades

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Solar panels

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MVHR

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Trombe wall

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Heliostat

–

Wet rock evaporative cooling

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

PV on balconies & facades

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Heliostat

Large scale PV

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

•

Courtyard improvements

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New community centre

–

Waste recycling

–

Play areas/cycle store

–

Landscaped gardens

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

New Community centre

Courtyard landscaping

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

•

“Warm rents”

–

On continent – rent controls & includes 
heating element

–

If can reduce energy costs within same rent 
envelope energy enhancements can pay 
back very quickly

–

Helps “affordable warmth” objectives

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Brunck Quarter

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1930’s estate, adjacent BASF factory

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Small flats, low thermal comfort

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Radical programme required, worked with 
residents

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Substantially better than new Part L or current 
German Building regulations

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“3 litre” standard

–

External insulation – walls, roof, basements

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Triple glazing

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Unenclosed balconies – summer shading

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Controlled ventilation, with heat recovery

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Unenclosed balconies/shadin

Refurbished block with shades

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

•

Innovative energy supply

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CHP, including fuel cells

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3 blocks with gas-fired fuel cell CHP

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Rents

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Germany has tight rent control

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Rent includes element for heating

–

Reduced energy costs & compensating increased 
accommodation charge means payback in 10 years

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Hoheloogstrasse

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1960’s built blocks for BASF workers

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Decline in local market necessitated 
refurbishment to bring back into use

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Demonstration project

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First “PassivHaus” standard 
refurbishment in Germany

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

•

2 sets of staircase blocks in one 
building

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One to PassivHaus standard

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One to “7 litre” standard

–

New CHP plant for hot water & 
supplementary heating

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

New CHP plant

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

•

External improvements 

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Large PV array

–

Balconies

–

Automatic external blinds

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Balconies

Shading device

Global Watch is a DTI service managed by Pera

Towards Zero Carbon Housing – Lessons from Northern Europe

Conclusions

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Energy & environmental improvements provide 
focus for regeneration of older urban areas

•

Higher energy performance standards can be 
achieved without drastic changes to appearance

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Advanced new technologies can enhance 
otherwise conventional facades

•

New materials – enhance performance without 
reducing space standards

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May need subsidies if low energy principles 
applied to older properties 

•

Fuel cells may help reduce emission levels even 
without full refurbishment to modern standards