Grimshaw, MACE and MOBIE, George Clarke’s education charity are inviting young people to imagine new energy-efficiency solutions in the Eco-Fix Challenge
The Eco-Fix Challenge focuses on finding new ways to upgrade existing homes, reuse old or vacant buildings and become more resource-efficient.
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.
Many of the UK’s homes are older and less energy efficent
40% of carbon emissions come from the existing built environment, from the energy used to build and run the building.
By 2023 it is expected that householders will have to spend between 12 and 15 percent of incomes on energy – gas and electricity.
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.
Retrofitting could be the solution
Retrofitting is the process of adding new features, services and facilities that were not available, or thought necessary at the time of construction, to existing properties.
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.
Entrants should select a building or buildings they are famliar with that are in need of energy efficient improvements.
This could be their home, apartment block, street, wherever they live, or they can pick any homes they know of that need attention.
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.
In developing their retrofit scheme for the Eco-Fix Challenge, entrants need to:
- achieve a significant reduction in energy use and carbon emissions from an existing home;
- adapt homes to protect them against the impacts of the climate crisis, for example overheating, storminess, flooding;
- use renewable energy sources to power the home;
- think about what new and local materials they will use in their retrofit project;
- improve and update the home for the way people live today and will live in the future;
- consider if the retrofit design can improve and strengthen the surrounding community
Introducing young people to careers in design, engineering, construction and green technology in the built environment
George Clarke, MOBIE founder and Trustee, said:”We need younger generations to define how they want to live now and in the future. Most of the homes in which we will live in the future exist now. That is why we are asking young people for their ideas on how we can adapt and change our homes to be more energy efficient and to reduce our climate impact. Young people are vital to the future of housing and it is important that their ideas influence home design and shape our communities of the future.”
Clarke went on: “MOBIE challenges are a launch pad for student creativity. That is why I am delighted to be launching this Eco-Fit home challenge with Grimshaw and Mace. I cannot wait to see how young people respond to the challenge – based on previous challenges I know we will be amazed by their imagination and creativity!”
The challenge is open to entrants aged 12-14 years, 15-18 years and 19 plus years (including graduates and young professionals). Closing date for entries is Friday 28th of April 2023.
