"The Great British Refurb" Housing for a low carbon energy future - Public Lecture June 9, 2009

Professor Tadj Oreszczyn, University College London
Chaired by: Professor Chris Rapley CBE,Director of the Science Museum
This event is part of the Story of London Festival
Almost half of the UK’s energy is used in buildings to provide a safe, healthy, comfortable, productive and fun environment.
As we look to tackle climate change, most scenarios assume we can achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions with changes to our built environment (such as London’s buildings and urban landscape). Historically however such theoretical carbon reductions have not materialized – new buildings often use twice the energy that would be expected and government insulation schemes can deliver minimal improvements in energy efficiency.
This is because of the highly complex socio-economic and technical systems that make up the built environment both in London and worldwide. Major changes to research, development and deployment as well as government policy is required if major carbon reductions are to be delivered within the next thirty years.
The lecture will cover questions such as: How do Londoners use 4% less gas and electricity than average dwellings in Great Britain and yet heat most their conservatories? How will London and the UK’s housing stock have to change in a low carbon future? Why does energy use increase sometimes when we improve the energy efficiency of buildings? Will future energy efficient buildings be healthy buildings? Can we fix the problem with technology alone?
Tadj Oreszczyn is Professor of Energy and Environment, Director of the UCL Energy Institute and Head of the Bartlett, School of Graduate Studies, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London.
Chris Rapley is Director of the Science Museum and previously Director of the British Antarctic Survey.

Admission free – no ticket or advance booking. Doors will open at 5.45pm. Seats allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. This event will be broadcast live at royalsociety.org/live

Official Website: http://royalsociety.org/event.asp?id=8451