Low-carbon housing project launches in Hull

The University of Hull and Hull City Council are teaming up to develop the low-carbon housing of the future.

As part of the project, the local authority will provide a residential property for the university team to trial its low-carbon heating technology.

Data on heating and energy use within the house will be monitored and recorded over a year, to fully analyse its effectiveness and affordability.

If the pilot project is successful, it is hoped the technology could be commercialised, and rolled out to homes across Hull and beyond.

Professor Xudong Zhao, from the University of Hull’s Energy & Environment Institute, is a globally recognised energy researcher whose focus on sustainable building services, renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

‘This project will be the first time this technology, which we hope will become an exemplar for the decarbonisation of our homes, will be demonstrated at full scale,’ he said.

‘Addressing the issue of decarbonising heating in the home is urgent to meet the UK target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and Hull City Council’s ambitions to reach those same targets by 2030.

‘This new project, working alongside Hull City Council, will provide us with a glimpse into the future of low-carbon, sustainable housing. It has the potential to be truly ground-breaking.’

Hull City Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Daren Hale added: ‘This pilot project puts Hull at for forefront of the UK’s low-carbon heating push.

‘Hull City Council has set the ambitious and achievable target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. If we are to reach that goal, projects such as this one from the university alongside the council will be vital.

‘These systems currently make up a fraction of the overall heating market in the UK, but this partnership between the council and the university could change that, which would be huge for the country’s zero carbon goals.

‘It demonstrates that the council is working hard alongside its major partner organisations to tackle climate change,’ said Cllr Hale.

Photo Credit – University of Hull