In January, the Levenshulme Area-Based Retrofit Scheme site visit in Manchester offered a valuable opportunity to observe a real-world retrofit project and gain key insights relevant to the EBENTO project, aimed at creating a platform for managing Energy Performance Contracts (EnPCs). The visit included presentations from key partners such as Carbon Co-op, B4Bo (construction contractor), and the architectural firm, followed by a tour of homes undergoing retrofitting. The experience highlighted both the complexities and successes of community-driven retrofitting, and it provides valuable data to inform the development and refinement of EBENTO’s platform.

Collaboration and Community Engagement

A central theme of the visit was the strong collaboration between Carbon Co-op, B4Box, and the architectural firm, which has been essential for navigating challenges and achieving project goals. Carbon Co-op’s role in engaging the local community was particularly noteworthy. By offering homeowners the opportunity to personalize their homes with choices such as render and window colors, Carbon Co-op has fostered a strong sense of ownership and involvement. This approach has added complexity to project management but has ultimately enhanced resident participation, making it a key element of the scheme’s success.

Challenges and Solutions

During the site visit, it was clear that supply chain issues, particularly delays in obtaining external wall insulation (EWI) of specific thicknesses, and manufacturing errors with windows, had caused some delays. The discussion around these challenges emphasized the importance of quality assurance and the need for flexibility when dealing with older buildings. There was also a focus on the technical details of the retrofit, such as below-ground EWI installation, structural issues like subsidence, and the placement of mechanical extract ventilation systems. The latter sparked discussions about the impact on resident comfort, especially regarding vent placement in line with best practices.

The exclusion of under-floor insulation to minimize disruption to residents was another key discussion point. The decision, while practical, raised questions about balancing cost, efficiency, and the long-term energy performance of the homes. The focus on external works has streamlined the process but has left open the potential for future under-floor insulation as the project progresses.

The Levenshulme Scheme’s Impact on EBENTO

The insights gained from the Levenshulme Area-Based Retrofit Scheme are highly valuable for the EBENTO project. As EBENTO develops an integrated platform to manage Energy Performance Contracts, real-world data from Levenshulme can validate the platform’s functionalities, ensuring they address practical needs and challenges observed in actual retrofit projects. Key elements of the site visit, such as supply chain delays, community engagement, and stakeholder coordination, provide concrete examples for refining EBENTO’s business models, platform architecture, and user interfaces.

The lessons learned from the Levenshulme project can also enhance EBENTO’s monitoring and simulation modules by providing real data on energy performance, resident feedback, and the challenges of retrofitting older homes. These insights will allow EBENTO to offer more accurate and relevant tools for energy efficiency projects. Furthermore, understanding the factors that contribute to project success in Levenshulme will help EBENTO’s impact assessment and replication strategies, identifying key aspects for applying the platform to other retrofit projects.

Practical Applications for EBENTO

The Levenshulme site visit provides valuable data for several EBENTO tasks, including:

• Performance-based Business Models: Insights from discussions on cost efficiency and financial mechanisms, such as grant funding, will inform the development of performance-based business models for EnPCs.
• One-stop-shop Building Performance Guarantees and Contract Definition: The collaborative nature of the Levenshulme project can inform the technical definition of EBENTO’s one-stop-shop, helping to streamline coordination between different stakeholders.
• Monitoring and Simulation Modules: Real-world data from Levenshulme will help calibrate EBENTO’s monitoring tools for more accurate simulations and energy performance tracking.
• Integration and Pilot Demonstration: The Levenshulme project serves as a practical example for testing and demonstrating EBENTO’s platform.
• Impact Assessment, Monitoring, and Replication: Understanding the social and economic impacts of the Levenshulme scheme will help shape EBENTO’s impact assessment and strategies for replicating successful projects.
• Dissemination, Communication, and Exploitation Activities: The Levenshulme project will be a key case study for promoting the EBENTO platform to broader audiences, showcasing its potential and real-world applicability.

Conclusions

The Levenshulme Area-Based Retrofit Scheme site visit provided a valuable perspective that will significantly enrich the EBENTO project. By integrating the lessons learned from this real-world retrofit project, EBENTO can be better tailored to the needs of the building and renovation sector. The collaboration, challenges, and solutions observed in Levenshulme will help ensure that EBENTO’s platform is practical, efficient, and effective, ultimately driving more sustainable energy performance contracting and fostering deeper citizen involvement in energy efficiency projects.

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