Aico has had a longstanding relationship with Southend-on-Sea City Council for many years, supporting the installation of its fire and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm systems.
The council aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2030 and is now launching a proactive retrofit programme for its 6,000 homes. These properties comprise 46 per cent of the council’s carbon footprint.
Supported by Ben Harrison, a finalist for Aico’s ‘rising star’ award in its 2024 community awards, the programme is currently implementing a range of projects from internal training and data improvement to insulation projects including the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
The standout initiative within the council’s programme is its retrofit show home which opened in November 2023. By partnering with several council departments and obtaining support from the DEFRA-funded ‘Catchment to Coast’ project, the housing team led a comprehensive retrofit of a solid-wall, 1950s semi-detached home which included:
- External wall and loft insulation;
- Triple glazing;
- De-centralised mechanical heat-recovery ventilation;
- Air-source heat pump and electrical appliances;
- Solar panels with a 6kW battery;
- Grey-water recycling Hydraloop which recycles shower water for toilet flushing;
- Sustainable drainage and Hydrorocks to reduce the risk of flooding;
- Low maintenance bio-diverse and drought-tolerant garden planting;
- Aico’s 3000 Series fire and carbon monoxide alarms and HomeLink environmental sensors.
The project stands out for its holistic approach to sustainability. This included using recycled materials, local products and future-proofing the home from overheating and drought risks in the home.
Showcasing exemplary practices
Hosting 250 visitors, the show home served as an educational resource for the entire community and enabled the council to showcase exemplary practices. The test-and-learn approach to the show home also allows the project to inform which measures to roll out to the council’s wider programme.
All retrofitting carried out in the show home adhered to PAS 2035 and will undergo ongoing assessment with Aico’s HomeLink environmental sensors. These were used both before and after the retrofit to ensure that there were no unintended consequences and that the indoor air quality is being maintained.
Southend Council’s show home is fully equipped with a Category LD1 fire and CO system using Aico’s Grade D1 3000 Series multi-sensors, future-proofing it for any revisions to BS5839-6. By using Aico’s HomeLink gateway and environmental sensors, temperature, humidity and CO2 levels can be monitored, giving insights into issues such as damp and mould, indoor air quality, fuel poverty and void properties. This information is seamlessly transmitted to the online HomeLink portal so that the council and its property management company, South Essex Homes, can see in real-time exactly how the house is functioning and can intervene before any problems occur.
Ben Harrison, housing sustainability officer, Southend-on-Sea City Council, said, “The retrofit show home involved taking a holistic approach to sustainable housing which meant that we installed a wide range of interventions.
“The project is designed to test the latest innovations to inform us on where we should focus our efforts in the wider retrofit programme. Aico’s environmental sensors are crucial for understanding the impact of these measures and ensuring that we continue to evaluate the performance of the home beyond installation.”
Revolutionising the home environment
The use of Aico’s HomeLink app for residents has played a significant part in this project, enabling residents to take control of their own environments and take a proactive approach to their health and well-being. The app facilitates real-time communication between Southend Council, South Essex Homes and the tenants through its messaging feature.
In addition, Southend Council and South Essex Homes have collaborated with Aico on smart-meter integration to offer the tenants and the council an additional dimension to the app.
This system has received positive feedback and is not only being implemented in SHDF trials and void properties equipped with environmental sensors but has also prompted a Category LD2 upgrade programme across all of the council’s properties. This initiative underscores the commitment to prioritise tenant safety and compliance for both the council and South Essex Homes.
Southend Council’s retrofit programme has enjoyed considerable success, with numerous awards and nominations:
- Winner of ACES Retrofit Housing award 2023;
- Highly commended (retrofit) at Essex Housing awards 2023;
- Shortlisted for RICS’ Eastern Region;
- Shortlisted (innovation in delivering sustainability & social value) for MJ Awards;
- Shortlisted in the Unlock Net Zero awards.
Steve Morl, mechanical and electrical engineer, South Essex Homes, said, “Following the success of our show home, we’ve been very impressed with the information that we’re receiving. We’re now extending this to all of our SHDF homes because we can now monitor and manage our stock by using the data on the HomeLink portal.”
Matt Golding, regional specification manager, Aico, said, “Southend Council and South Essex Homes’ retrofit housing project has yielded some great insights across all aspects of the show home. Their use of our environment sensors has future-proofed this property for the eventual tenants and will provide them with great insights into how the property environment is working and also how efficient the council has made the property.
“Maintaining their focus on sustainability and compliance, Southend Council and South Essex Homes are now rolling this process out to all of their SHDF properties, including the installation of Aico gateways in all properties over the next few years.”
