Case Study: Project 80 Collaboration
Ensuring new homes are more efficient and sustainable than ever, meeting the Future Homes Standard three years early, through detailed monitoring, analysis and construction.
Summary听
The UK has a set a legally binding target to bring all its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. Construction is a big contributor to this, so the Government has introduced new Building Standards, known as the Future Homes Standard.听
As part of Project 80, a programme of projects in partnership with Midland Heart Housing Association, the Centre for Future Homes has been part of a听12 home听construction project focused on designing and developing more sustainable homes that meet the standard,听three years ahead of schedule听and resulting in听80%听less carbon emissions than the 2013 standard.
Delivery听
Through the programme The Centre for Future Homes academics looked to develop a 鈥榣iving lab鈥� environment. Providing detailed monitoring, occupant interviews and case study analysis of design,听construction听and operation of homes with the focus of developing research to help Midland Heart and听future听construction businesses learn and improve their techniques.听听
The programme considered the following aspects听-听听
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Project Design and Implementation听鈥� Design changes and modifications to the way the homes were built.听听
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Costing,听economics听and carbon accounting听鈥撎�The resources required to create new homes needed to be cost efficient and balanced against economic and environmental impact. The on-cost in construction, occupation and environmental impact were all assessed.听听
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Building performance and modelling听鈥撎�Changes made to achieve the Future Homes Standard and performance gaps were addressed with real data.听听
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User Satisfaction and learning analysis听鈥撎�The occupant is central to the success of the home. Different needs of a diverse population with different lifestyles and capabilities听is听accounted for.听听
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Evaluation of industry implications, whole life,听economics听and preparation听鈥撎�Changes to create Future Homes听have long term implications for the whole industry. New skills, working practices, products, supply chains and maintenance practices were considered.听听
Results so far听
As a听result听the Centre for Future Homes are currently delivering:听
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Cost benefit analysis of the proposed changes for developers and occupiers听
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Significant impact of different building standard on indoor air quality and overheating in homes听
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Design tools, models and recording of key stages of construction to support with Future Homes delivery听
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A Homes User Guide to help people live in complex homes听
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Understanding of heating and ventilation systems听听
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An assessment of the safety of Future Homes听For听Occupants听
Project 80 has also been recognising nationally, winning in the Sustainability category at the 2022 Built Environment Awards,听an annual ceremony promoting achievements in the sector and organised by the Chartered Association of Building Engineers.
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Interested in discovering how the Centre can help your organisation make its building solutions more cost-effective and sustainable?