14 : LOWCARB4REAL
Developing low carbon housing; lessons from the field

The objective of this project is to execute a knowledge exchange programme for low carbon (energy efficient) new housing. It will draw on learning from the Stamford Brook Field Trial, which is an action research project funded by CLG and involving the National Trust, Redrow Homes, Bryant Homes, NHBC, CITB, Vent Axia, and the Concrete Block Association.

The 6 year trial, recently concluded, sought to evaluate, in a comprehensive way, the issues involved in improving the carbon performance of mainstream house building. The project has generated an unprecedented amount of learning related to air tightness, envelope integrity and systems performance, at all levels including building physics, dwelling design, site management, workforce training and procurement systems.

Given the challenging regulatory targets proposed by government aimed at Zero Carbon new housing within 10 years, it is crucial that the learning from field trials such as Stamford Brook is captured, refined, contextualised and embedded as thoroughly as possible within the UK house building industry in general and in London and the South East in particular.

This proposal seeks to develop such a programme and to act as a model for industry-based research and knowledge exchange designed to facilitate progress towards zero carbon housing.