Ground-breaking housebuilding app available for free download

BRE greenAn innovative new app developed by BRE (Building Research Establishment) in partnership with Cruden and Kraft Architecture + Research which allows house builders to compare energy efficiency options and the associated cost implications, is now available for free download.

The data incorporated within the app is the most up to date on the marketplace and follows months of monitoring at the ‘Refurbished House’ on the BRE Innovation Park in Ravenscraig.

Delivered by BRE Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University and Historic Scotland and constructed by Cruden Buildings and Renewals, the home represents a recreation of the ‘four in a block’ model of which there are an estimated 265,000 in Scotland and three million of a similar design in England.

Dr David Kelly, group director, BRE Innovation Park Networks, said: “As a direct result of the successful collaboration with Cruden Buildings and Renewals and Kraft Architecture + Research, we have been able to jointly develop this app which offers new and innovative retrofit solutions, which we believe will be of particular interest to those operating within the social housing sector.



“The Refurbished House demonstrates a range of innovative retrofit solutions for some of the most energy inefficient homes across Scotland and the UK.

“The project has enabled a robust assessment on the most cost effective solutions of fabric upgrades for this building style, for walls, windows, roofs and services and these state of the art solutions are to be found in this new app.”

Allan Callaghan, managing director of Cruden Building and Renewals, said: “With challenging carbon emission reduction targets to meet, and fuel poverty a widespread problem, the UK needs to radically improve the energy performance of its existing homes – and that’s where this app comes in.

“The beauty of the app is that it presents quite technical information in a way that is very easy to understand.



“It can tell a landlord what they need to do to upgrade a property, how much it will cost, and how much money that refurbishment will save in maintenance and running costs. Importantly the app helps the user make maximum benefits to the properties with the minimum disruption to the resident – a huge plus for everyone concerned.”


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