Our pilot project is underway on Ross Street and Coldham’s Grove to retrofit 50 council homes in line with the very latest in sustainable design. This project will help to significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, whilst improving home comfort.
The project contributes to the council’s vision for the city to be net zero carbon by 2030. It was reported in 2020 that 31% of Cambridge’s carbon emissions come from domestic emissions (The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)).
- Next event: 'Meet the Contractor' drop-in session for participating households and neighbours in Ross Street and Coldham's Grove
Key benefits
The key benefits of decarbonising your home include:
- a warmer home in winter; a cooler home in summer
- lower energy bills than a non-retrofitted home
- a refreshed home, with new doors, windows, gutters, facias, and external wall finish
- consistent temperature throughout your home
- improved air quality inside your home
- help fight Climate Change
How the pilot project will make homes more energy efficient
Loft insulation
A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. Improving the thickness and quality loft insulation is an effective way to reduce heat loss and reduce energy bills.
Triple-glazed windows
This will reduce heat loss and better insulate your home against external noise.
External wall insulation
This is a new layer of insulation to the outside of the existing walls of your house. It makes your house more efficient at retaining heat.
Floor insulation
Insulation is installed on the ground floor of your house.
New external doors
New external doors with integrated insulation will reduce heat loss and comply with regulations. They will include an effective draught-proofing system.
Solar Panels
Also known as photovoltaics, or solar PVs, they will capture the sun's energy and convert it into electricity for use in your home. By installing solar panels, you can generate your own renewable electricity, cutting your carbon footprint and your electricity bills.
Low-carbon heating
This is integral to reducing carbon emissions and will involve replacing gas boilers with air source heat pumps, which use electricity to extract heat from the air to heat your home and hot water.
Ventilation
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) will extract stale, moist air from your home and resupply fresh, filtered air back in.
Programme
The majority of pre-retrofit surveys have now been completed and planning permission was granted in August and September 2023. Building Regulations approval was granted in December 2023.
Following the completion of a tender process, Axis were been selected as our successful contractor in March 2024.
We are working towards a construction programme starting in May 2024.
Previous events
April 2023
We held a drop-in event at Ross Street Community Centre with opportunities for participating households to meet the architects, ask questions, view developed design proposals and leave comments. Feedback was generally positive and proposals were welcomed.
September 2022
We held an online webinar for interested tenants in September 2022.
The webinar involved a presentation followed by a session where residents had the opportunity to ask any questions they had about the project.
"Net Zero" Energy Efficiency Project webinar
Further information
The council’s Climate Change Strategy 2021-26 [PDF, 4MB] shares a vision for Cambridge to be net zero carbon by 2030.
There are many ways that you can get involved to help Cambridge get to net zero:
- find out how the council is tackling climate change and how you can take action to reduce your carbon emissions
- read about how you can reduce energy and water use at home
- read our guide to retrofitting your home to improve energy efficiency [PDF, 9.5MB]
