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Retrofit assessment: Getting it right from the start (2024)
Journal Article
Fitton, R., & Swan, W. (2024). Retrofit assessment: Getting it right from the start. Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal and Valuation, 12(3), 208-217

The UK has some of the oldest buildings in Europe. They are also some of the worst performing in terms of energy performance. In tandem with these issues the UK has committed to making a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions. UK homes are currently... Read More about Retrofit assessment: Getting it right from the start.

Bellway Homes "The Future Home" Baseline Performance Report (2024)
Report
Fitton, R., Diaz, H., Farmer, D., Henshaw, G., Sitmalidis, A., & Swan, W. (2024). Bellway Homes "The Future Home" Baseline Performance Report. Salford: ERDF & Innovate UK

This report examines the fabric thermal performance of a prototype home (The Future Home, or TFH) built by Bellway Homes. The home was designed and built to meet the anticipated Future Homes Standard in terms of fabric performance. The research was c... Read More about Bellway Homes "The Future Home" Baseline Performance Report.

Saint Gobain & Barratt Developments “eHome2” Baseline Performance Report (2024)
Report
Fitton, R., Diaz Hernandez, H., Farmer, D., Henshaw, G., Sitmalidis, A., & Swan, W. (2024). Saint Gobain & Barratt Developments “eHome2” Baseline Performance Report. Salford: ERDF & Innovate UK

This report examines the fabric thermal performance of a prototype home (eHome2) built through a partnership with Saint Gobain and Barratt homes. The home was designed and built to meet the anticipated Future Homes Standard in terms of fabric perfor... Read More about Saint Gobain & Barratt Developments “eHome2” Baseline Performance Report.

Heat Flux Sensing Device (2022)
Patent
Fitton, R., Benjaber, M., & Busby, P. (2022). Heat Flux Sensing Device

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a heat flux sensing device comprising: a heat flux sensor; a support frame upon which the heat flux sensor is mounted; a housing provided around the support frame, the housing com... Read More about Heat Flux Sensing Device.

Building energy performance assessment based on in-situ measurements : challenges and general framework (2021)
Report
Fitton, R. (2021). Building energy performance assessment based on in-situ measurements : challenges and general framework

Subtask 1 investigated the possibilities and limitations of common data bases and monitoring systems. This subtask is strongly related to subtasks 2 and 3 by linking the available input data – as much as possible based on existing (non-intrusive) mon... Read More about Building energy performance assessment based on in-situ measurements : challenges and general framework.

Measuring the Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) in buildings : a stakeholder’s survey (2021)
Journal Article
Deb, C., Gelder, L., Spiekman, M., Guillaume, P., Jack, R., & Fitton, R. (2021). Measuring the Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) in buildings : a stakeholder’s survey. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 144, 111008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111008

The heat transfer coefficient (HTC) is a very important factor influencing the energy performance of a building. Recent studies have shown the importance of on-site measurements of the HTC in reducing the performance gap in buildings. However, its me... Read More about Measuring the Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) in buildings : a stakeholder’s survey.

Thermal performance of thermal paint and surface coatings in buildings in heating dominated climates (2019)
Journal Article
Simpson, A., Fitton, R., Rattigan, I., Marshall, A., Parr, G., & Swan, W. (2019). Thermal performance of thermal paint and surface coatings in buildings in heating dominated climates. Energy and Buildings, 197, 196-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.04.027

A purported approach to reducing heating energy in solid wall “hard to heat” housing is the simple application of a thin layer (< 1mm) of thermal paint containing insulating additives. The objective of this study was to test the energy saving clai... Read More about Thermal performance of thermal paint and surface coatings in buildings in heating dominated climates.

Renaturing a microclimate : the impact of greening a neighbourhood on indoor thermal comfort during a heatwave in Manchester, UK (2019)
Journal Article
Taleghani, M., Marshall, A., Fitton, R., & Swan, W. (2019). Renaturing a microclimate : the impact of greening a neighbourhood on indoor thermal comfort during a heatwave in Manchester, UK. Solar Energy, 182, 245-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.02.062

Higher air temperatures in large cities like Manchester, UK, reduce human thermal comfort. In this paper, the impact of land cover on microclimate, and consequently on indoor thermal comfort is studied. Through different stages, field measurements an... Read More about Renaturing a microclimate : the impact of greening a neighbourhood on indoor thermal comfort during a heatwave in Manchester, UK.

QUB : a fast dynamic method for in-situ measurement of the whole building heat loss (2018)
Journal Article
Alzetto, F., Pandraud, G., Fitton, R., Heusler, I., & Sinnesbichler, H. (2018). QUB : a fast dynamic method for in-situ measurement of the whole building heat loss. Energy and Buildings, 174, 124-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.06.002

QUB is an innovative method enabling the experimental measurement of the total heat loss coefficient (HLC) of a building envelope in one night only. It is based on a simple theory, yet can be demonstrated to be accurate even in a short time and in re... Read More about QUB : a fast dynamic method for in-situ measurement of the whole building heat loss.

Comparison of whole house heat loss test methods under controlled conditions in six distinct retrofit scenarios (2018)
Journal Article
Alezzo, F., Farmer, D., Fitton, R., Hughes, T., & Swan, W. (2018). Comparison of whole house heat loss test methods under controlled conditions in six distinct retrofit scenarios. Energy and Buildings, 168, 35-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.024

The accurate assessment of buildings to assess their performance across a range of parameters is an essential part of understanding both new and retrofit buildings. The growing understanding of the performance gap in terms of its assessment and chara... Read More about Comparison of whole house heat loss test methods under controlled conditions in six distinct retrofit scenarios.

Adoption of sustainable retrofit in UK social housing 2010 – 2015 (2017)
Journal Article
Swan, W., Fitton, R., Smith, L., Abbott, C., & Smith, L. (2017). Adoption of sustainable retrofit in UK social housing 2010 – 2015. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 35(5), 456-469. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijbpa-04-2017-0019

Purpose
The Retrofit State of the Nation Survey has tracked the perceptions of social housing sector professionals’ views of retrofit since 2010. It has taken the form of 3 surveys conducted in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Here we bring together the three... Read More about Adoption of sustainable retrofit in UK social housing 2010 – 2015.

Measuring thermal performance in steady-state conditions at each stage of a full fabric retrofit to a solid wall dwelling (2017)
Journal Article
Farmer, D., Gorse, C., Swan, W., Fitton, R., Brooke-Peat, M., Miles-Shenton, D., & Johnston, D. (2017). Measuring thermal performance in steady-state conditions at each stage of a full fabric retrofit to a solid wall dwelling. Energy and Buildings, 156, 404-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.09.086

The methodology used for measuring the thermal performance of fabric retrofit systems which were applied to a solid wall UK Victorian house situated within an environmental chamber is explored in detail. The work describes how steady-state boundary c... Read More about Measuring thermal performance in steady-state conditions at each stage of a full fabric retrofit to a solid wall dwelling.

The staged retrofit of a solid wall property under controlled conditions (2017)
Journal Article
controlled conditions. Energy and Buildings, 156, 250-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.09.033

Retrofit of hard to treat properties has been highlighted as a policy challenge to reduced energy consumption in
the UK. This study undertook an experimental staged retrofit of a pre-1919 UK solid wall property under
controlled conditions. The prop... Read More about The staged retrofit of a solid wall property under controlled conditions.

Heat-flow variability of suspended timber ground floors: Implications for in-situ heat-flux measuring (2016)
Journal Article
Pelsmakers, S., Fitton, R., Biddulph, P., Swan, W., Croxford, B., Stamp, S., …Elwell, C. (2017). Heat-flow variability of suspended timber ground floors: Implications for in-situ heat-flux measuring. Energy and Buildings, 138, 396-405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.12.051

Reducing space heating energy demand supports the UK’s legislated carbon emission reduction targets and requires the effective characterisation of the UK’s existing housing stock to facilitate retrofitting decision-making. Approximately 6.6 million U... Read More about Heat-flow variability of suspended timber ground floors: Implications for in-situ heat-flux measuring.

The thermal energy performance of domestic dwellings in the UK (2016)
Thesis
Fitton, R. The thermal energy performance of domestic dwellings in the UK. (Thesis). University of Salford

The central contribution of this work is concerned with the understanding of the real performance of domestic retrofit measures in terms of whole house energy efficiency. The researcher has undertaken studies in a whole house test facility in a clima... Read More about The thermal energy performance of domestic dwellings in the UK.

Quantifying the performance of a passive deaerator in a gas-fired closed loop domestic wet central heating system (2016)
Journal Article
Johnston, D., Glew, D., Miles-Shenton, D., Benjaber, M., & Fitton, R. (2016). Quantifying the performance of a passive deaerator in a gas-fired closed loop domestic wet central heating system. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, 38(3), 269-286. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143624416675391

In the UK, approximately 16% of the energy use can be attributed to domestic wet central heating systems. Government financial support and advances in technology have led to boilers becoming more efficient and a range of technologies are now availabl... Read More about Quantifying the performance of a passive deaerator in a gas-fired closed loop domestic wet central heating system.

Understanding our heritage : monitoring of energy and environmental performance of traditional terraced houses of Northern England (2016)
Presentation / Conference
Gonzalez, A., Roberts, B., Fitton, R., Swan, W., & Elkadi, H. (2016, October). Understanding our heritage : monitoring of energy and environmental performance of traditional terraced houses of Northern England. Presented at EECHB Energy Efficiency and Comfort of Historic Buildings, Brussels

Existing buildings play a key role in the achievement of the ambitious energy saving and greenhouse gas reduction targets that Europe has fixed for 2020 and 2050. Research has demonstrated that the impact in terms of decrease of energy use and CO2 wi... Read More about Understanding our heritage : monitoring of energy and environmental performance of traditional terraced houses of Northern England.

Assessing the performance of domestic heating controls in a whole house test facility (2016)
Journal Article
Fitton, R., Swan, W., Benjaber, M., Hughes, T., & Todd, S. (2016). Assessing the performance of domestic heating controls in a whole house test facility. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, 37(5), 539-554. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143624416634070

The energy consumed by domestic space heating systems represents a considerable share of the energy
consumed in the UK. At the same time up to a quarter of English homes have inadequate controls on the central heating systems. Current modelling tool... Read More about Assessing the performance of domestic heating controls in a whole house test facility.

The variability of UK domestic energy assessments (2016)
Journal Article
Gledhill, T., Kempton, J., Swan, W., & Fitton, R. (2016). The variability of UK domestic energy assessments. Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal and Valuation, 4(4), 264-279

The 2008 Climate Change Act has committed the UK to reduce carbon emissions by 80 per cent in 2050 from 1990 levels. Key to achieving this is a focus on reducing carbon emissions in residential property, where more than a quarter of the nation's carb... Read More about The variability of UK domestic energy assessments.