An initiative that aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions from densely packed buildings in UK cities and towns has won a £4.5 million funding boost from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The new Centre for Net-Zero High Density Buildings will investigate how to make buildings in heavily populated areas more energy-efficient to reduce carbon emissions, lower heating bills, and bring eco-friendly construction products to the market.

Dynamic partnership

Led by the University of Edinburgh the research partnership combines the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, West of Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University, and BE-ST – Scotland’s construction innovation centre. The centre draws together £5.6 million investment from industry, education, the public sector and the community.

Based at the University of Edinburgh’s newly opened Edinburgh Futures Institute, the Centre will test new prototypes and retrofit buildings with low-carbon materials, heating and cooling systems, and energy storage technologies.

Eco-friendly buildings

The scheme will target buildings which typically house some of the UK’s lowest earners, including many public sector and key workers.  These groups tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on energy bills, yet are more likely to experience health problems associated with cold and damp housing.

Among methods being trialled are net-zero heating systems, more sustainable construction methods, and natural insulation materials – using plants such as hemp and sisal – which can be manufactured in Scotland and reduce issues associated with plastic insulations.

Other approaches include low-carbon heating technologies, which are more energy-efficient than boilers and fives time faster to install than heat pumps, researchers say.

Carbon emissions

Researchers estimate the UK’s 6 million households living in flats, combined with urban commercial buildings, produce around 20 per cent of the country’s annual carbon emissions.

The scheme will test its approaches in Edinburgh and Glasgow, which have the UK’s highest proportion of flats. These feature a patchwork of historic stone tenements, modern flats, and commercial premises – offering a useful testing ground for green building technologies.

Net-zero targets

Researchers estimate that Glasgow and Edinburgh city regions combined may require around £35 billion investment for low-carbon retrofitting and construction over the next 25 years, to help achieve net zero goals.

The scheme’s recommendations will be shared with industry and government, to inform how buildings across the country are retrofitted to achieve net-zero targets.

The initiative is one of several created by UKRI to boost green manufacturing, jobs and skills across the country, known as Green Economy Centres. Another key focus will be to train students in low-carbon retrofitting through partnerships with colleges and academies.

There is a critical net zero challenge for our cities and towns, where densely packed buildings make a significant contribution to annual carbon emissions. The retrofit of buildings will become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry and this new centre will help the UK lead the way on new green economy solutions, enabling business growth and preparing for the skills and jobs ahead.

Transitioning to a sustainable green economy is a win-win for all; it creates new jobs, new partnerships and new industries. Through investment in collaboration between researchers and innovators, we harness our collective effort across the public and private sector, driving innovation to secure the future of our environment and deliver sustainable economic growth.