Demonstration

Site overview

The Whitegate Close neighbourhood, owned by Places for People (PFP), is a mix of 109 properties in general need of upgrade. Heat is supplied to 23 properties by a natural gas fired high efficiency combi-boiler, and to 86 properties using legacy electrical storage heating. PFP currently have 30% of their present housing portfolio in electrically heated homes. All properties currently have an independent electrical grid connection and third party supplier contract.

Motivation

PFP wants to increase the standard of energy services to their residents, reduce resident turnover, and make Whitegate a neighbourhood of choice. DREEAM is viewed as an opportunity to develop a low maintenance model for the UK social rented market and to find innovate ways to tackle the challenge of outdated and inefficient electric heating and hot water systems. PFP has a special interest in utilising integrated whole dwelling solutions that address all the aspects of the home that can be used to cut carbon emissions, including insulation, renewable heating systems, and control systems.

Renovation plans

The main aim is to go beyond a business-as-usual renovation and demonstrate a new state of the art solution for the replacement old and inefficient all electric (heated) properties. Some ideas to accomplish this are: introduction of common electrical purchasing program for all PFP homes, installation of solar photovoltaic electricity supply, electric only homes, and installation of POD solar thermal and heat storage.

Site overview

Borgo Furo towers, owned by ATER Treviso, are a 36 dwelling in two buildings of a six-tower complex at the outer edge of Treviso, in the district Borgo Furo. The current construction has no insulation, single glazed windows with ageing metal frames and PVC shutters. Space heating and DHW are produced by single natural gas thermal boilers. All properties currently have an independent electrical grid and natural gas connection.

Motivation

ATER Treviso wants to gain experience in energy consumption monitoring and ICT control to better understand actual return on investment and energy performance contract conditions. There is also a high desire to reduce energy consumption of the building portfolio of associated social houses.

Renovation plans

The project aims to minimise power consumption through optimisation of the passive systems to minimise the active ones, solar panels optimal solutions to reduce the demand for hot sanitary water , and electricity production from renewable sources (photo-voltaic). Some ideas to accomplish this are:

1) The optimization of passive systems (building envelope) to minimize the active ones;
2)High efficiency condensing boilers to reduce the demand for natural gas;
3) Electricity production from renewable sources (photovoltaic panels on the roof – only for common parts).
4) CMV systems with heat exchangers: to reduce the demand for electricity during the warm/hot season (april/september) in order to control hot temperature, high umidity and molds. The controlled ventilation systems for energy recovery allows partial recover of heating or cooling energy that would be lost with simple air change (for example by opening windows. : Main aspirators (for the removal of stale or polluted air) and main speakers (for fresh air inlet) are positioned out of existing verandas through a suitable panel.

Site overview

The demonstration is, owned by Berliner Bau- und Wohningsgenossenschaft von 1892 EG, are 164 dwellings over 6 buildings in the centre of Berlin. The dwellings, from 1956 and the late 1970s, are 1-3 bedrooms apartments and comprise of 11.000 square meters of living space. The renovation project includes a combination of renovation and new building. The renovation uses a target approach which does not cover facades, but does include window renewal. Innovative technologies are included in lighting, PV and energy storage; the building will have a micro grid.

Motivation

1892 wants to experience with a balanced renovation approach. This mainly includes getting a better understanding of ICT, better understanding the trade-off between traditional and novel solutions (replacing facade-renovation with adding PV), and especially with social innovation. This latter elements focuses on increased tenants participation in decision-making and use of ICT application to engage tenants.

Renovation plans

The project aims to minimise power consumption through optimisation of selected passive systems, with and electricity production from renewable sources (photo-voltaic) and storage.

1) The optimization of windows to increase comfort and reduce energy consumption for heating
2) Electricity production from renewable sources (photovoltaic panels on the roof – only for common parts).
3) Inclusion of batter storage (Tesla PowerWall) for optimal community use of generated energy