AN innovative new app for social landlords and housebuilders, developed by Building Research Establishment (BRE) in partnership with Cruden, has officially been launched by Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
Mr Swinney visited the BRE Innovation Park at Ravenscraig to hear how the new RetrofitLab App will allow housing associations, social landlords and housebuilders to easily calculate the benefits of refurbishing their existing properties, how much the work will cost, and how much can be saved in maintenance and running costs. Ultimately the App is expected to result in more energy efficient homes, reducing fuel poverty and carbon emissions and improving the health of tenants.
The data incorporated within the App is the most up to date on the marketplace and follows months of monitoring at the “Refurbished House” on the BRE Innovation Park in Ravenscraig. Delivered by BRE Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University and Historic Scotland and constructed by Cruden Buildings and Renewals, the home represents a recreation of the “four in a block” model of which there are over 250,000 in Scotland and three million of a similar design in England. The App presents technical information in a user-friendly way, and importantly, helps the user make maximum benefits to properties with the minimum disruption to the resident.
Dr David Kelly, Group Director BRE Innovation Park Networks said, “At BRE, we combine science and technology with innovation and entrepreneurship to develop and share solutions for existing and future buildings not only in Scotland but across the UK, Europe and around the world. This project is a prime example of BRE’s overriding objective to generate new knowledge through research and we are delighted that, following prolonged testing and monitoring at the Refurbished House, a range of innovative retrofit solutions for some of the country’s most energy inefficient homes have been identified.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney added, “I welcome the launch of the new RetrofitLab App which will help housing associations, social landlords and house builders to easily calculate the benefits of refurbishing their existing properties. Ultimately this should encourage the creation of more energy efficient homes and benefit tenants living in the properties, for example by reducing their fuel and energy costs, improving the quality of their home and having a positive effect on their health and wellbeing.”
The BRE RetrofitLab App is now available for free download on Apple iPads.
