Resource: Retrofit Reality
Name of organisation: Gentoo
Type of ressource: case studies/ best practice
Addressed users:
- building user (social housing organization)
- tenant/ cooperator
- building owner
- project manager
- design team
Language:
- English
Process stage:
- national/ regional strategy development
- organisational strategy development
- pre- design phase (appraisal and strategic briefing)
- design phase (project briefing)
Weblink: http://www.gentoosunderland.com/?article=8873&track=/355/356/&resizer=
Description
Gentoo has published the second of three reports detailing the progress it has made so far on its Retrofit Reality project, the biggest retrofit scheme of its type in the country.
The project seeks to learn lessons for the housing sector and establish what is the ‘reality’ of the situation for landlords, customers and product supplier’s when attempting to meet the challenge of the huge national retrofit programme that lies ahead.
139 of the properties Gentoo own and manage were selected for the study and energy efficient products were fitted to all or some of the homes: solar thermal panels, A-rated condensing combination boilers, energy efficient showers and double glazing. In addition another 40 homes were chosen to act as a control group for the behavioural study, which forms part of the whole project.
Gentoo manages nearly 30,000 properties which will be inhabited for many years to come so being able to successfully retrofit the existing stock to higher energy efficient levels is important for the long-term maintenance of the homes and to reduce customer’s fuel bills. Alongside the retrofit work, Gentoo will be carrying out extensive educational work with tenants in order that the products that are fitted are used correctly and to the greatest benefit to the user.
Retrofit Reality is being pioneered by Gentoo Green, the sustainability arm of the group, working together with Gentoo Construction and Gentoo Sunderland to implement the study.
