by Xavier Dubuisson (RetroKit)
Using high-quality data to plan a successful home energy upgrade can be likened to having the right tools in the toolbox to get the job done! However, with so many variables and so much data, identifying the starting point can be a challenge. As with all things, having the right information and the right processes can be a powerful accelerator to action, with the journey to energy savings and comfort improvement significantly transformed from a daunting task to a manageable project through the collection and interpretation of the relevant datasets. In this blog, we examine how powerful data analytics can support housing providers, local authorities, building contractors, engineers, and One Stop Shops with integrated planning, decision-making, and project prioritisation.
With an upgrade target of 500,000 homes to a B2 rating by 2030, the Government’s Climate Action Plan is tackling the consumption profile of Ireland’s energy-hungry housing stock. The GHG emissions reduction potential is considerable, with a whopping one-quarter of Ireland’s total energy consumed directly in homes. Reducing emissions from heating, lighting, and appliance use cannot be underestimated. And while housing built between 2015 to 2020 is far more efficient than those built in the preceding 20 years, Ireland has a sizeable task in consolidating, assessing, and deploying the best, most energy-efficient, and cost-effective solutions at scale.
To stay on target, 50,000 homes a year need to undergo significant energy upgrades. A sizeable annual target to be driven by housing providers already under pressure from retrofitting skills and labour availability shortages. To achieve the GHG emissions reduction required through the scaled deployment and delivery of solutions there is a fundamental need for the additional, and long-term investment in skills development and training from the State, and for the optimisation of project planning through the use of decision support systems that align with the large-scale energy efficiency improvements needed. The collection and interpretation of data is crucial to the development of such systems, using high-quality layered datasets to enable the advanced analysis of multiple project-specific factors such as emissions reductions and energy savings goals, resources, and budgetary considerations. Through digitising and consolidating data, a project team can improve the quality of the decision-making process and test a variety of scenarios.
Identifying the diversity, inconsistencies, and disconnected composition of Irish data available, RetroKit’s multidisciplinary team designed a cloud-based database solution to work with and support decision making. Currently, a hugely labour-intensive manual task, for which few project teams have the available resources to undertake, the RetroKit cloud-based platform bridges the information gap. Using BER data, GIS, and data analytics, the software solution uses actual energy datasets and advanced analytics to develop a highly detailed analysis of retrofitting measures that have the highest potential, are evidence-based, and can underpin the development of a retrofitting strategy at scale while taking account of project-specific considerations. The advanced data analytics software can identify the dwellings that will most benefit from home energy upgrading, prioritising based on the specific project parameters such as KPIs (BER rating, Heat Loss Indicators, CO2 emissions, energy costs), location (taking an area-based approach), and by dwelling archetype (for example taking account of the main heating fuel, age of construction, wall type).
The impacts are wide-ranging from climate action to health and wellbeing, to the eradication of fuel poverty and employment creation, through the provision of warmer homes and reduced energy bills. To meet emission reductions targets and for Ireland to play its part in limiting global warming to within 1.5C, energy use in homes must be tackled and scaled rapidly to meet national targets. With retrofitting one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways of achieving a sizeable reduction to our national emissions footprint, to improve lifestyles and living standards, supporting communities to transition is integral. How we do this and how we ramp up national energy upgrades can be transformative, with powerful data analytics a key component in expediating the move from project planning, to prioritisation, to action.
Heads up from IGBC:
Did you know that we launched a Energy Renovation Framework for local authorities? The objective of the Framework is to track and monitor holistically the impact of energy renovation at municipal level and to better link local and national initiatives. This in turn should support greater citizen engagement and better policymaking while driving investment. The Framework is not intended to rank local authorities with regard to their renovation strategies, but to support them in developing better strategies, and in identifying best practices. Read more here.
About RetroKit
RetroKit will reduce the cost of planning a large-scale energy retrofit project by 70 to 85%, resulting in better investment decisions. RetroKit is a cloud-based digital platform dedicated to upscaling energy retrofit in housing as a key step to decarbonising Europe’s energy system and eliminating fuel poverty. At RetroKit, our mission is to empower our clients. Step one is building the customisable database, get in touch with the team at RetroKit to learn more.