Architects look for effective ways of making existing properties more energy efficient

(29/07/2010)

UK architects have been challenged to design innovative energy efficient retrofit solutions for a terrace of four houses in Sunderland. The five architectural projects shortlisted for the Daily Telegraph British Homes Awards have been hailed as an important step in ensuring that the nation finds effective ways of making existing properties more energy efficient.

“New houses are amongst the most energy efficient ever built, but there are more than 25 million existing homes that still waste too much of the energy we put into them,” explained John Kellett, General Manager of Mitsubishi Electric’s Heating Systems Division.

“These homes will be around for decades to come and as a nation, we have to find ways of improving efficiency if we are to meet the tough targets for carbon reduction,” he added. “That is why we feel that these awards, and in particular this year’s theme, will act as an impetus to the whole architectural profession. We congratulate all five who made the shortlist.”

The shortlist was announced at a gala awards dinner with Mitsubishi Electric sponsoring the Architect of the Year category. This is the fourth year of the prestigious awards and the five shortlisted finalists include: Napper Architects with the Ethical Partnership with their scheme - re: gen2gether; Syte Architects with The Wrapped Terrace; ST + R with Back Up ST + R with Back Up; Hess Kincaid Leach with Green 4 Life; and Fraher Architects & O-Negative with The Memory House.

At the Awards Presentation, RIBA President Ruth Reed announced the five schemes to have been shortlisted by the Panel of Judges, chaired by the Immediate Past President of RIBA, Sunand Prasad. The winning design, to be voted by the readers of The Daily Telegraph, will be announced at The RIBA Stirling prize in October.

“With the homes that each of us live in accounting for 27% of the carbon we emit, refurbishing the housing stock becomes a top priority,” commented Ruth Reed. “All of the architects shortlisted for this award have already demonstrated design flare in schemes that combine practical solutions and innovative ideas.”

Related categories:  Environmental technologies for Residential and Green homes