Projects

NZIP Innovation Funding (2022-Ongoing)
 
We are helping BEIS to manage millions of pounds of innovation funding, through the Net Zero Innovation Programme.
 

Energy Efficiency Legal Database (2021-Ongoing)

We are supporting VELUX by helping to keep their database of international legislation relating to energy efficiency up to date.
 

CODE Energy Model (2020-21)

CAR developed a dynamic, bottom-up model for the Department of Business and Energy, exploring how UK homes can be converted to electric heating cost effectively.
 

Costs of upgrading new homes beyond Building Regs (2018)

Working out the costs of additional work, materials and technologies needed to step beyond Building Regs for Energy, for Oxford City Council and the Sustainable Housing Action Partnership.
 
Scientific Tests of a Device to Improve Boiler Efficiency, for BEIS (2018-20)

Detailed physical measurements before and after installing Oxypod, an innovative boiler upgrade that removes air from the heating circuit and may improve energy efficiency.

Extra Costs of Sustainable Homes, for Oxford City Council (2018)

Detailed bottom-up costing of different energy upgrades to homes in Oxford, to assist in viability questions linked to raising the standard of homes in planning requirements.

How Much to go Beyond Part L? for SHAP (2018)

Energy and carbon modelling and cost modelling, to find out the extra-over costs of exceeding the requirements for energy and carbon emissions in the Building Regulations.

Data Sourcing, Quality Assurance and Calibrating the 2100 Calculator, for BEIS (2018)

Helping BEIS to build an updated and extended version of the 2050 Calculator, which will model carbon emissions through to 2100, as a memorial to Sir David Mackay.

Pathways for Integrated Electric Heating, for the Energy Systems Catapult (2017-18)

Analysing different upgrade pathways for real homes in different circumstances, aimed at improving thermal efficiency and allowing a switch to electric heating.

Best practice and innovation for internal wall insulation, for BEIS (2017)

Assessing the thermal performance, costs, benefits and drawbacks of a series of innovative techniques for internal wall insulation, and crystalising current Best Practice IWI.

Heat Loss from Party Walls, for BEIS (2016-18)

Detailed physical measurements and thermal modelling of heat loss from 54 dwellings with party walls, to find out whether interventions are justified nationally.

Post-Occupancy Evaluation for Berkeley Homes (2016-17)

Interviewing and surveying new homeowners on Berkeley’s large site in Kidbrooke Village, Greenwich, to assess thermal comfort and occupant satisfaction.

Energy Signatures, for Ricardo AEA and BEIS (2016)

Providing housing stock data and modelling, and analysing mapping data, to target homes and households with most potential and need for energy efficiency measures.

‘What Works’ in Energy Bills, for BEIS (2016)

Exploring how to rework the information presented in energy bills in ways that are more meaningful for householders, and allow them to make informed decisions about energy.

BEIS cost assumptions for housing upgrades (2015-2016)

Interviewing installers, contractors, local authorities and energy companies to evaluate the true cost of 18 different retrofit measures that save energy in homes.

Smart homes and saving energy (2015)

Helping Loughborough University, the University of East Anglia and the University of Strathclyde write the Final Report from the three-year REFIT project (Retrofit Decision Support Tools for UK Homes using Smart Home Technology.

Specifying monitoring equipment for a national energy survey (2014-2015)

Assembling different packages of monitoring equipment that could be used in a large-scale, longitudinal energy study, collecting data about up to 10,000 homes, on behalf of the UK Government.

CPRE energy modelling and analysis (2014-2015)

Evaluating different energy scenarios, including demand and supply-side measures, to meet national carbon reduction targets.

Expert Panel Meeting on smart meters and home energy use (2013)

Setting up an expert panel meeting for BEIS to explore how we can put smart meter data to work and learn more about household appliance use.

Analysing the Household Electricity Survey for BEIS (2012-2015)

Carrying out further analysis of the most comprehensive survey of electricity use in homes ever undertaken in the UK, for the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Estimating savings from low-energy behaviours (2012)

Modelling and calculations to estimate how much energy UK households could save by adopting 45 different behaviours, for the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Researching energy storage and insulation materials (2012)

Writing a state-of-the-art review and running an event about energy storage and insulation materials, for the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Energy modelling, analysis and writing reports for BEIS (2010-2014)

Writing the UK Housing Energy Fact File, developing a model, and preparing national statistics for the UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Developing a model of Scotland’s Household Energy Use (2009-2010)

Designing and developing DEMScot – CAR and CE’s model of CO2 emissions from Scottish housing – for the Scottish Government, and exploring how to meet CO2 reduction targets.

Promoting and organising low-carbon business network (2008-2011)

Marketing and running the Cambridge Climate Change Charter for Cambridge City Council and South Cambs District Council.

Writing guidance on low energy school design (2008)

Helping to write a guide for school heads and bursars, published by the National College for School Leadership.

Developing software for assessing CO2 emissions from buildings – Climate Lite (2007-2010)

Designing and building a tool to predict energy demand and CO2 emissions for new buildings.

Providing design advice on sustainable buildings (2006-7)

Advising Granta Architects about low energy design, sustainable construction, water use and materials.

Writing case studies of sustainable schools (2005-7)

Writing ‘Sustainable Schools: Case studies’, including detailed energy analyses, for the Department for Education.

Publishing findings and analysis of results from the large-scale PV field trial (2003-7)

Coordinating and delivering dissemination activities for the DTI (now BIS).

Clients

The Energy Systems Catapult

The Sustainable Housing Action Partnership

The National Energy Foundation

National House-Building Council

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Department of Energy and Climate Change

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Scottish Government

The Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK)

Department for Communities and Local Government

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Department for Education

Cambridge City Council

South Cambridgeshire District Council

Oxford City Council

Campaign to Protect Rural England

Committee on Climate Change

Zero Waste Scotland

WWF Scotland

Berkeley Homes

VELUX

Ricardo Energy