The target for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction in the UK is set at 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The UK housing stock is one of the least energy efficient in Europe. The energy used in homes accounts for more than a quarter of energy use and carbon dioxide emissions in Great Britain. Therefore, it is imperative to improve the energy performance of the existing housing stock and fully exploit energy efficiency and renewable energy interventions. Several tools have been developed particularly in the last decade for energy assessment of dwellings, largely to inform policy development. However, when it comes to policy implementation stages, stakeholders such as local councils, energy suppliers, social housing providers and planners lack an effective tool, which assists them in estimating the potential for energy performance improvement through implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy interventions. The UK government has several policies and initiatives to improve the energy performance of the housing stock. This research discusses the development of framework and a prototype tool to assist in implementation of these policies. There are a number of databases that hold information about the condition of the housing stock. This is in the form of digital maps, aerial and terrestrial imagery and statistics from census and housing surveys. This research presents an innovative way of integrating this information to undertake energy performance assessment on various geographical levels. The framework and the prototype allow stakeholders to determine the baseline energy performance of the dwellings based on their existing characteristics. This information is then used to estimate the potential for reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions and associated costs. Also integrated within the framework and the prototype is analytical hierarchy process based multi-criteria decision analysis technique that supports stakeholders in selection of energy performance improvement interventions suited to their requirements. Energy Performance Improvement of Dwellings Abstract Amit Mhalas, 2013 iv The developed framework and prototype are calibrated and validated with empirical data to determine the accuracy, reliability and trustworthiness. To demonstrate the practical applicability of the framework and the prototype, two separate case studies are undertaken involving the stakeholders. The results from the case studies indicate a potential to reduce CO2 emissions from dwellings by 70% through installation of energy performance improvement interventions. The developed framework and the prototype are expected to assist stakeholders in making informed decisions with regard to the implementation of energy policies and initiatives and contribute to meeting CO2 emission reduction targets.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:582077 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Mhalas, Amit |
| Contributors | Darwood, Nashwan |
| Publisher | Teesside University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/10149/301653 |
Page generated in 0.0017 seconds