‘Fabric First’ is a phrase often used, which simply means that improvements to the structure of a building are considered first, before investing in other measures such as technologies. This can include insulation in walls, floors and attics, along with high quality windows and doors, and the reduction of draughts.
New homes are built to high energy standards and we work closely with our Design Teams and Contractors to ensure that we consider the building fabric carefully. Over the last decade we have built hundreds of homes to higher energy standards, exceeding current requirements. This has included building homes to meet the international ‘Passive House’ standard and also developing homes to various levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The latest example of this is Killynure Green (Phase 2), with further information on this new housing development available on our website.
Every year our Assets Department also manage the investment of millions of pounds of improvements to our existing homes. This includes measures to improve the fabric of our homes, such as insulation upgrades and new windows and doors. These improvements enable our customers to reduce their energy use, which in turn helps to alleviate fuel poverty. Energy efficiency improvements also deliver environmental benefits, such as reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality, with most homes using fossil fuels. By improving the fabric of our homes now we are also preparing our homes for the future when alternative renewable technologies are likely to be used more often.
Our homes have an average EPC Energy Efficiency rating of 76 (Band C), which is significantly higher than the NI Average of 60 (Band D) and we have targets in place to improve this further in coming years.
