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What will this session will cover?

Scotland’s cities have the highest number of flats than anywhere else in the UK, this includes the iconic tenement buildings.

The sandstone tenements, older multi-story buildings often constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and flats, which form a large part of the urban residential landscape, are in need of upgrades to meet modern energy efficiency standards.

There are 73,000 pre-1919 sandstone tenement homes in Glasgow alone, making up more than a fifth of the city’s housing stock. Unfortunately, many of these tenements are in poor condition and in need of repair. They also leak carbon and are expensive to heat and insulate. These pose a unique challenge for retrofit at scale, as they will require different methods of roll out.

Scotland has set ambitious climate targets, aiming to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2045 – retrofitting buildings is an essential part of this strategy.

Though challenging, this work is vital to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise using sustainable materials and methods. It is also essential for the people living in these buildings. More efficient homes would mean lower energy bills and risk of fuel poverty, and a higher level of comfort and good health.

This work is not only a challenge, but a huge opportunity for those working in this area across Scotland.

You will hear from Prof Ken Gibb, who specialises in Housing Economics and has done research into the vital work of retrofitting Scotland’s tenements and flats as well as Architects who have been involved in retrofitting tenements. He will look at preventative investment, economic evaluation and appraisal of residential retrofit focus on Scotland and tenements, including a cost benefit analysis case study for a Victorian Glasgow tenement.

You will also hear from Chris Morgan, who will speak about a range of approaches to retrofitting Scotland’s tenement buildings with a focus on energy efficiency and health, and with reference to a number of case studies.

What will I  learn at this session?:

• About the unique retrofit and building challenges associated with tenements and flats
  
• About the type of work being rolled out across these buildings
• About the impact this work can have for people living in tenements as well as in the wider goal of the transition to net zero in Scotland