Social Housing Projects Will Share Funding Worth £17m

87 social housing projects around the country are to be provided with £17 million worth of funding to help test new low carbon building technology.

The funding was introduced last week by Science Minister Lord Drayson and Housing Minister John Healey. The scheme will provide retrofitting of new green technologies in housing units across the UK. This will help the government to meet its targets of 80% reduced carbon emissions by 2050.

The buildings involved will have a number of key features. They will be designed to be air tight to help reduce heat loss, including through the use of materials such as double glazing in windows. Insulation will also be upgraded. Open chimneys will be sealed, and walls will be coated with a special plaster.

Homes will make use of targeted heat recovery systems in hot areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens, to help make them more energy efficient by redistributing the heat elsewhere. Heating systems will be installed that have the ability to match the living patterns of occupants.

These prototype systems and technologies are to be tested in selected properties. By 2050, it is hoped that such technologies will be implemented nationwide. The schemes will be closely monitored in order to gain vital information on how possible it will be to reach energy efficiency targets set by the government. These improvements will also help occupants to save on energy bills.