The Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS) is undertaking research that directly tackles the priorities identified by the recent CCC report, UK housing: Fit for the future?
UK researchers welcome Committee on Climate Change report, UK housing: Fit for the future? Energy efficiency policies are cutting emissions from our homes. However, as measures like condensing boilers and insulation begin to saturate the market, the challenge now is to accelerate the deployment of new technologies such as heat pumps and solid wall insulation.
The UK research community is central to this challenge.
The Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS) is undertaking research that directly tackles the following priorities identified by the CCC report:
- Improving compliance: A big part of the problem is that current energy performance standards, enshrined in the Building Regulations, are not being met. CREDS is looking at ways of using smart meter data to make compliance easier and cheaper.
- Making efficiency pay: Saving energy saves money but also improves comfort, health and amenity for us and lowers system costs for government. CREDS researchers are working out how government policy – national and local – can exploit these “multiple benefits”.
- “Householders can also make a big difference with small changes”: CREDS is looking at ways of using smart meter data to allow us to manage our energy use, for example by understanding the links between temperature control and our perceived comfort.
However the stop/start nature of policy has been particularly damaging to business and consumer confidence. Strong leadership is now required to regain the momentum because existing policies will not deliver the reductions required.
Read more about our projects in this area >>
Banner photo credit: Meriç Dağlı on Unsplash
