Social housing: net zero progress report - quarter 2 2024

Project Title: Fabric First Retrofit to Timber Kit

Project Organisation: Hjaltland Housing Association

Technology Type(s): EWI, UFI, External doors, MVHR

Location(s): Virkie, Shetland Islands Council

Grant Value: £92,172

Completion Date: Projected March 2025

Project Headline: Project involving fabric first retrofit to 4 detached bungalow properties in Shetland

Project Description:

This project is based on a successful pilot the housing association undertook to other similar properties, confirming the fabric first approach improves air tightness and results in less heating energy being required. The pilot saw an average 33% reduction in all energy use and a 45% reduction in off peak heating use.

Properties are all hard-to-treat timber kit properties circa 1976, currently heated by high heat retention storage heaters. Retrofit project will involve external wall insulation, underfloor insulation, new doors and side screens and mechanical ventilation heat recovery.

Tenants will receive technical instructions to ensure heating is programmed efficiently and temperatures will be monitored through already installed Aico environmental sensors.