Renewable upgrades to the Housing Stock of Britain.
Britain is entering a period of rapid change to its energy strategy.
It has to allow for a reduction in fossil fuel use by 34% by 2020 and a further reduction of 80% in fossil fuel use by 2050 to comply with its UN Climate Agreements.
Renewable energy sources are being manufactured; with the remaining allowed resources of fossil fuels; to take the place of some of the energy generation in Britain.
These will not however replace the existing national grid; as it is decommissioned; in total.
Renewable energy sources must be located at each use point to replace the national grid and reduce waste.
In terms of dwellings the effects are examined in the following sections relating to age and numbers of housing stock, the use of the housing stock, the energy production and consumption for the housing stock, the options and costs for adding renewable to each part of the housing stock. Conclusions are drawn in each section.
Age of Existing Housing stock in Britain
Total housing stock in 2008
= 26,800,000 = 100%
Total housing stock built before 1900
= 7,700,000 = 29%
The majority of the existing housing stock are semi-detached house built between 1919 and 1944 = 8,308,000 = 31%
Housing stock built after 1944
= 19,100,000 = 71%
Source: ONS Social Trends: Housing ST 41 2011
Source: A Century of Change: Trends in UK statistics since 1900
Use of housing stock by the 2013 and the 2050 population
Britain has enough houses for all of its population if 2 to 3 people occupy the property.
Source: CIA World Factbook 2013 UK population 63,395,574 (July 2013 est.) / total housing stock 26,800,000
The majority of houses had two people in them in 2010.
Source: ONS Households and families ST 41 2011
Source: Census, Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics
The Britain's population is projected to increase by 22% to 77,000,000 by 2050
Source: US Population Reference Bureau
Britain has enough houses for all of its population if one extra person occupies each property
allowing for 3 people in each property. 77,000,000 / total housing stock 26,800,000.
This needs only one extra bed putting in each existing house.
The majority of houses had two people in them in 2010.
Source: ONS Households and families ST 41 2011
Source: Census, Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics
Conclusion
Therefore Britain does not need any more new houses currently or up to 2050.
Energy production, consumption and cost for housing stock in 2013, 2020 and 2050
Standing charge in pence per day and unit rate cost in pence per kWh for electricity in 2013
Total 32p per kWh/day
Source: http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/gas-and-electricity/our-energy-tariffs/Tariffs-A-Z.html
Energy production in terms of population 2013, 2020, 2050
Britain produces 352,700,000,000 kWh (2010 est.)
Source: CIA World Factbook 2013
Reducing this by 34% by 2020 to allow for matching the UN Climate Agreements
Britain will produce 232,782,000,000 kWh by 2020
Reducing this by 80% by 2050 to allow for matching the UN Climate Agreements
Britain will produce 46,556,400,000 kWh by 2050
This in the 2020 population of 63,395,574 people is 3672 kWh person/year
This in the 2050 population of 77,000,000 people is 604 kWh person/year
Energy consumption in terms of population 2013, 2020, 2050
Britain consumes 325,800,000,000 kWh (2009 est.)
Source: CIA World Factbook 2013
Reducing this by 34% by 2020 to allow for matching the UN Climate Agreements
Britain will consume 215,028,000,000 kWh by 2020
Reducing this by 80% by 2050 to allow for matching the UN Climate Agreements
Britain will consume 43,005,600,000 kWh by 2050
This in the 2020 population of 63,395,574 people is 3391 kWh person/year
This in the 2050 population of 77,000,000 people is 558 kWh person/year
Allowing for the same number of dwellings in occupation the total housing stock in 2008 was 26,800,000 dwellings.
Source: ONS Social Trends: Housing ST 41 2011
Source: A Century of Change: Trends in UK statistics since 1900
Allowing for 2 people per dwelling which is the current case from 2011 in Britain the energy production and consumption in terms of dwellings can be examined up to 2020 and 2050.
Source: ONS Households and families ST 41 2011
Source: Census, Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics
Energy production in terms of dwelling numbers 2020, 2050
In terms of electricity production in 2020
3672 kWh person/year x 2 = 7344 kWh per dwelling
26,800,000 dwellings x 7344 kWh per dwelling
= 196,819,200,000 kWh generation capacity needed for all dwellings
Britain will produce 232,782,000,000 kWh by 2020
= 232,782,000,000 kWh - 196,819,200,000 kWh
= 35,962,800,000 kWh generation capacity spare for all dwellings
In terms of electricity production in 2050
604 kWh person/year x 3 = 1812 kWh per dwelling
26,800,000 dwellings x 1812 kWh per dwelling
= 48,561,600,000 kWh generation capacity needed for all dwellings
Britain will produce 46,556,400,000 kWh by 2050
= 46,556,400,000 kWh - 48,561,600,000 kWh
= -2,005,200,000 kWh generation capacity inability to power dwellings
Energy consumption in terms of dwelling numbers 2020, 2050
In terms of electricity consumption in 2020
3391kWh person/year x 2 = 6782 kWh per dwelling
26,800,000 dwellings x 6782 kWh per dwelling
= 181,757,600,000 kWh consumption for all dwellings
Britain will consume 181,757,600,000 kWh by 2020
= 215,028,000,000 kWh - 181,757,600,000 kWh
= 33,270,400,000 kWh consumption capacity for all dwellings
In terms of electricity consumption in 2050
558 kWh person/year x 3 = 1674 kWh per dwelling
26,800,000 dwellings x 1674 kWh per dwelling
= 44,863,200,000 kWh consumption for all dwellings
Britain will consume 44,863,200,000 kWh by 2050
= 43,005,600,000 kWh - 44,863,200,000 kWh
= - 1,857,600,000 kWh consumption capacity shortfall for dwellings
Conclusion
The identified shortfall in energy needs to be compensated for by transferring the spare energy from the 2020 period into manufacturing to allow renewables to be installed in all dwellings in Britain.
Close rotation coppice wood burning stoves with carbon reburn would be the most suitable
since it can be utilized by the majority of the housing stock which still have chimneys and fireplaces.
Solar panels and wind generation, located at each dwelling, should also be included with battery backup systems to allow all dwellings to have a stored electricity supply even when the national grid and power stations of the pre 2020 period are decommissioned to allow for compliance with UN Climate Agreements.
These should all be manufactured and installed regardless of cost to the economy or the taxpayer.
Renewable Installation Methods and cost for the housing stock
Houses built before 1900
One third of the housing stock in Britain was built before 1900
Source: ONS Social Trends: Housing ST 41 2011
Source: A Century of Change: Trends in UK statistics since 1900
This housing stock will, due to its original construction methods and materials, not be easily upgraded to a renewable energy use.
Insulation cannot be easily applied to the walls since many are not generally of cavity construction.
If energy, resources and environment permit
Insulation can be applied to the roof void at ceiling and rafter level.
Double and triple glazed windows can be applied into the facade
Solar panels can be applied to the roof areas.
Chimneys and fires can be brought back into use with a suitable, efficient calorific fuel such as short rotation coppice wood burning stoves that can recycle the charcoal fuel produced as a secondary fuel system without the need for additional manufacturing.
Household appliance numbers can be reduced to further save energy.
The existing houses can be powered at a new energy level of
13 kWh/m²/yr, 1110 kWh/yr
Source: EU low energy house standards
This for a 1st1Bedroom 1Person dwelling or part of a dwelling and allows for
1110 kWh/yr = 3kWh/day, 3kWh/day/10hrs = 0.3kWh/day = 300 watts
= 2 x 200watt panels
1110 kWh/yr = 3kWh/day = 3000 watts/day / 12v = 250Ah/day
= 500Ah/day storage allowance
= 5/110Ah batteries trickle charged in parallel.
Costs for Houses built before 1900
Insulation (sheep wool) to roof = £300
Source: Which website
Double and triple glazed windows = £3300
semi-detached house
10 casement windows
Source: house-extension website
Solar panels and batteries = £10000
Chimney refurb
SRC wood burning stove = £3000
Total = £16600 per dwelling
Allowing for 7,700,000 dwellings = £127,820,000,000
Houses built between 1919 and 1944
The majority of the existing housing stock are semi-detached house built between 1919 and 1944
Source: ONS Social Trends: Housing ST 41 2011
Source: A Century of Change: Trends in UK statistics since 1900
This housing stock will, due to its original construction methods and materials, not be easily upgraded to a renewable energy use.
Insulation cannot be easily applied to the walls since many are not generally of cavity construction.
If energy, resources and environment permit
Insulation can be applied to the roof void at ceiling and rafter level.
Double and triple glazed windows can be applied into the facade
Solar panels can be applied to the roof areas.
Chimneys and fires can be brought back into use with a suitable, efficient calorific fuel such as Short rotation coppice wood burning stoves that can recycle the charcoal fuel produced as a secondary fuel system without the need for additional manufacturing.
Household appliance numbers can be reduced to further save energy.
The existing houses can be powered at a new energy level of
30 kWh/m²/yr, 2610 kWh/yr
Source: EU low energy house standards
This for a 2st3Bedroom 4Person allows for
2610 kWh/yr = 8kWh/day, 8kWh/day/10hrs = 0.8kWh/day = 800 watts
= 4 x 200watt panels
2610 kWh/yr = 7kWh/day = 7000 watts/day / 12v = 583 Ah/day
= 1200 Ah/day storage allowance
=11/110Ah batteries trickle charged in parallel.
Costs for Houses built between 1919 and 1944
Insulation to roof (sheep wool) = £300
Source: Which website
Double and triple glazed windows = £3300
semi-detached house
10 casement windows
Source: house-extension website
Solar panels and batteries = £10000
Chimney refurb
SRC wood burning stove = £3000
Total = £16600 per dwelling
Allowing for 8,308,000 dwellings = £137,912,800,000
Houses built after 1944
The housing stock built after 1944 will, at least partly, due to its original construction methods and materials, be easier to upgrade to a renewable energy use.
If energy, resources and environment permit
Insulation may be easily applied to the walls since some are of cavity construction.
Insulation can be applied to the roof void at ceiling and rafter level.
Double and triple glazed windows can be applied into the facade
Solar panels can be applied to the roof areas.
Chimneys and fires can be brought back into use with a suitable, efficient calorific fuel such as Short rotation coppice wood burning stoves that can recycle the charcoal fuel produced as a secondary fuel system without the need for additional manufacturing.
Household appliance numbers can be reduced to further save energy.
The existing houses can be powered at a new energy level of
30 kWh/m²/yr, 2610 kWh/yr
Source: EU low energy house standards
This for a 2st3Bedroom 4Person allows for
2610 kWh/yr = 8kWh/day, 8kWh/day/10hrs = 0.8kWh/day = 800 watts
= 4 x 200watt panels
2610 kWh/yr = 7kWh/day = 7000 watts/day / 12v = 583 Ah/day
= 1200 Ah/day storage allowance
=11/110Ah batteries trickle charged in parallel.
Costs for Houses built after 1944
Insulation to walls (wood cellulose) = £500
Insulation to roof (sheep wool) = £300
Source: Which website
Double and triple glazed windows = £3300
semi-detached house
10 casement windows
Source: house-extension website
Solar panels and batteries = £10000
Chimney refurb
SRC wood burning stove = £3000
Total = £17100 per dwelling
Allowing for 19,100,000 dwellings = £326,610,000,000
Conclusion
The possibility of adding renewables to the existing housing stock varies by age and type of housing stock.
The cost of adding renewables to the existing housing stock varies by age and type of housing stock.
The total cost of adding renewables is in the billions of pounds.
The renewables must be fitted to allow for the shortfall in the generation capacity and the increase in the population which will increase consumption rates.
Ian K Whittaker
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
25/09/2013
14/10/2020
2026 words over 5 pages