Summary of the impact

A 2008 `options appraisal' by the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit (MEARU) for Cube Housing Association (CHA) impacted directly on practice apropos eliminating `fuel poverty' (energy cost >10% disposable income) and complying with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) — this achieved by a major combined heat and power (CHP) installation linked to thermal upgrading (complete 2012). This tangible impact for CHA in turn helps Scotland to achieve its CO₂ reduction targets alongside improved public health. The initial research work by MEARU for CHA followed many years of work with energy efficiency and environmental quality in housing (2 below).

Summary of the impact

A development of six Creative Energy Homes (CEH) on the University of Nottingham campus provides a living test-site for leading firms, including E.ON, David Wilson Homes, BASF, Tarmac, Roger Bullivant and Igloo Blueprint to work with the University of Nottingham to investigate the integration of energy efficient technologies into houses. As a result of this work, Lovell homes has won a number of sustainable housing contracts, Roger Bullivant have developed and installed 30 SystemFirst™ foundation systems and Igloo Blueprint have built £7M worth of new homes. The research findings have informed the UK Government's "Green Deal" strategy, the Nottingham Community Climate Change Strategy and received widespread acclaim through a number of public engagement activities reaching out to over 5 million people.

Summary of the impact

Ground-breaking research in the field of Dynamic Insulation (DI) at Aberdeen University has contributed to international efforts to combat climate change through the reduction of the carbon emissions associated with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning of buildings. Through the establishment of a spin-out company and the development of the world's first modular DI product, jobs have been created and developers have been able to use the first commercially available DI products and systems to meet strict new environmental targets. The success of such projects has led to greater public awareness of the issues around global warming.

Summary of the impact

Research at Loughborough University during the period 2008-2013 in the areas of control, commissioning and design of advanced naturally-ventilated buildings has led to:

• Improvements in ventilation performance in an award-winning building in the USA;
• Confirmation of the performance of a globally applicable low-energy building design strategy; and
• Increased confidence in US design teams to produce naturally ventilated buildings.

A subsequent KTP project with SE Controls has led to:

• A new product range for a UK controls company;
• Increased turnover;
• Expanded capacity to exploit research for innovation; and
• Stimulated growth of its new product development team.

Summary of the impact

Since 2007, Edinburgh researchers have played an important role in increasing the use of local, context-specific knowledge in the assessment of technological sustainability and efficiency in the bioenergy and solar sectors in East Africa and South Asia. This has taken the following forms:

• Supporting policy development through establishing multi-stakeholder bio-energy forums in Kenya, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.
• Improving clean energy access to approximately 180,000 people in Kenya, India, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.
• Informing practitioners through high-level advice to campaign groups and international organisations.
• Taking leading roles in public debates about the political economy of energy innovation in the developing world.

Summary of the impact

Research at the University of Nottingham into the use of phase- change materials as a means for heating and cooling buildings has resulted in the development of COOL-PHASE®, a product which is sold by Monodraught ltd. The system was launched in 2008 and has been installed in 136 buildings in the UK. COOL-PHASE® underpins the long-term growth strategy for the company and Monodraught has invested in employing 3 new staff and £250k in capital expenditure to make the unit suitable for mass production.

Summary of the impact

The work described here has impacted on European policy and standards concerning energy efficiency in Building Services.

The impact arises from two Welsh School of Architecture led and European Commission funded projects, HARMONAC (focussed on inspection of air-conditioning systems) and iSERV (focussed on automatic system monitoring and feedback). These pan-European projects demonstrate achieved energy savings of up to 33% of total building electricity use in individual buildings, and potential savings up to €60Bn. These projects demonstrably impacted the recast European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the revision of EU Standards (European Committee for Standardisation (CEN)).

Summary of the impact

Alliance researchers have demonstrated that it is possible to refurbish existing buildings, which make up over 90% of our stock of over 26m buildings, to achieve a reduction in CO₂ emissions of up to 80% (domestic properties) and 50% (non-domestic). The research has underpinned a shift of emphasis by UK government from new to existing buildings and the formulation of incentives to encourage building owners to make energy-saving improvements. In partnership with not-for-profit, public and private stakeholders, it has been used by national and local agencies to highlight the potential of improving the energy performance of traditionally constructed, timber-framed and residential mobile homes and incorporated into practical guidance by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. It is also the technical foundation for an educational software package developed with 100 school children and teachers and praised as exemplary by Education Scotland.

Summary of the impact

University of Nottingham research into the use of natural lighting and ventilation in building design has resulted in the development, marketing and application of two new sister products (SunCatcher and Sola-Vent) by a leading supplier of low-carbon, low-energy solutions. Since 2008, 745 installations of Sola-Vent units have been carried out by Monodraught Ltd. Homes and commercial premises, both in the UK and overseas, have benefitted from the low energy demands of the system. As well as delivering economic benefits for the company, this work has had a positive impact on building owners and occupiers and the wider environment.

Summary of the impact

This case study concerns the long term (energy) sustainability of emerging winemaking regions. Underpinning research in energy efficiency and renewable technologies informs the case study in determining energy usage and benchmarks, development of energy guidelines/policy, implementation by national professional bodies and adoption of energy best practice by the local industry. Impact is through the adoption and application of benchmarks by winemaking associations, directly influencing (through policy, regulations and standards) the energy expended in making wine. The study is underpinned by international publishing accolades (Solar Energy `Best Full Length Paper in Photovoltaics', Mondol et al, 2005) and a highly prestigious personal Royal Academy of Engineering Global Research Award to Smyth.