Method to measure sustainability of homes under development

More than 16,000 social housing properties in Wales will have their green credentials tested with the aim to develop a way to measure sustainability.

The pilot, led by Building Research Establishment (BRE) and supported by the Welsh Assembly, hopes to establish a method of measuring sustainability that will lead to greener refurbishments.

Welsh authorities hope the project will establish an assessment method that can be used across all social housing properties in Wales.

BRE Wales spokesman Colin King said: “It is hoped and anticipated that after the trial has been undertaken and reported to the Housing Directorate, all other housing consortia and registered social landlords in Wales will use the assessment methodology to make refurbished homes across Wales more sustainable.”

The sustainability assessment will employ BRE’s EcoHomes XB environmental assessment criteria, developed as part of BREEAM.

Property Tectonics will use its Lifespan-EcoHomes XB software to manage and report on data collected.

Property Tectonics director David Bracegirdle said it was important that the project focused on greening existing homes.

“Its’ focus is on existing homes, which unlike new build, are often ignored, which is not sensible when so much can be done to improve the environmental footprint of millions of homes in use in the UK,” Bracegirdle said.