Retrofit for the Future

The contract covers two similar projects, the first being the energy monitoring of Energy Saving Trust's field trials of solid wall insulation and the second as part of the Technology Strategy Board's 'Retrofit for the Future' competition.

The project will work with the insulation industry to support the installation of new and existing forms of solid wall insulation, with in-situ monitoring of performance. Recently, several new insulation products have entered the market. They are still developing and their in-situ performance has yet to be established, but they do offer potential for the millions of un-insulated solid walled homes in England.

The purported energy savings vary widely and their acceptability to householders has yet to be determined. The project aims to establish the in-situ performance of a wide variety of solid wall insulation systems, with a focus on reduced energy consumption and carbon savings.

The requirement of the TSB Retrofit for the Future project is to undertake ongoing energy and internal conditions monitoring of each property once the retrofit works have been completed - for a period of 2 years. It is likely that many of the retrofit projects will take some time to complete, so the two-year monitoring period will extend into 2013. Further measurements of airtightness, thermal imaging and in-situ U values will also need to be undertaken at a suitable point once the retrofit works have been completed.

BSRIA prepared its proposals in the full understanding that much of the detail relating to locations and installation details were unknown at the time of the bid. In order to meet this challenge and also to ensure a rapid mobilisation to capture data within the current heating season. Maximum use of regionally based teams presently conducting airtightness, acoustic and thermal imaging  has enabled BSRIA to offer flexibility in its operation.

BSRIA has also taken great care in arriving at an instrumentation (logging) solution, using the latest wireless technology. The selected choice is based not only on the required accuracies but also on the need to minimise inconvenience to occupants and on the reliability of outcome. BSRIA's aim is to minimise the dropout rate of the sample either due to equipment failure or occupant frustration and interference.

An experienced team based in Bracknell will support the regional operatives. They have a track record of delivering large-scale trials such as this and carry personal expertise in all the areas required. Other recently completed monitoring projects include:

- Energy Saving Trust Domestic Hot Water project
- Energy Saving Trust Microwind project
- British Council for Offices (BCO) Small Power project

These projects required not only technical skills to ensure accurate and consistent measurement but in the case of the two domestic projects, the special issues associated with working in occupied homes, minimising inconvenience and disruption.