{"id":120315,"date":"2023-01-23T14:11:59","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T14:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=120315"},"modified":"2023-06-06T10:13:03","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T09:13:03","slug":"eco-fix-challenge-invites-young-people-to-innovate-retrofitting-solutions-with-george-clarke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/hr-skills-news\/eco-fix-challenge-invites-young-people-to-innovate-retrofitting-solutions-with-george-clarke\/120315\/","title":{"rendered":"Eco-Fix Challenge invites young people to innovate retrofitting solutions with George Clarke"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grimshaw, MACE and MOBIE, George Clarke’s education charity are inviting young people to imagine new energy-efficiency solutions in the Eco-Fix Challenge<\/h2>\n

The Eco-Fix Challenge<\/a> focuses on finding new ways to upgrade existing homes, reuse old or vacant buildings and become more resource-efficient.<\/p>\n

Construction firm Mace, architecture practice Grimshaw and TV architect George Clarke and his education charity MOBIE (Ministry of Building Innovation and Education) are asking young people to explore what it takes to makes homes more energy and resource efficient, to reduce the costs of heating and lighting, to emit little or no carbon emissions, to help protect against climate change and to create affordable, functional, comfortable places in which to live.<\/p>\n

Many of the UK’s homes are older and less energy efficent<\/h3>\n

40% of carbon emissions come from the existing built environment, from the energy used to build and run the building.<\/p>\n

By 2023 it is expected that householders will have to spend between 12 and 15 percent of incomes on energy \u2013 gas and electricity.<\/p>\n

The government estimates that between 25 and 27 million homes in the UK need improvement in their energy efficiency by 2050, which means that 2,800 homes per day, or 117 homes every hour, need to have their energy efficiency improved to meet the 2050 target.<\/p>\n

Retrofitting could be the solution<\/h3>\n

Retrofitting is the process of adding new features, services and facilities<\/a> that were not available, or thought necessary at the time of construction, to existing properties.<\/p>\n

Although the retrofitting of homes usually means improving their energy efficiency, it can also mean adapting to new ways of living and meeting the current and future needs of the occupants<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Entrants should select a building or buildings they are famliar with that are in need of energy efficient improvements.<\/p>\n

This could be their home, apartment block, street, wherever they live, or they can pick any homes they know of that need attention.<\/p>\n

Entrants will apply their design skills and imagination to present proposals for a retrofit scheme that will update, upgrade, repurpose, and possibly extend the home(s). Designs should provide an efficient, functional, comfortable, safe home for the future.<\/p>\n

In developing their retrofit scheme for the Eco-Fix Challenge, entrants need to:<\/h3>\n