Smart Social Housing: Ideal Smart Solutions vs. Real-World Compromises

In this factsheet, we delve into the reality of implementing smart systems by looking at an example of smart energy systems’ refurbishment in social housing in Wales (UK). Showing a case study in which single family bungalows have been upgraded towards becoming net-zero/low carbon via the implementation of PV energy generation with storage systems, ground source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems, we describe what smart functionalities are put in operation. The example illustrates what could be achieved in practice in terms of smart energy transition together with measured benefits for indoor thermal comfort and costs. This Fact Sheet is part of the SMARTUP Project: Smart(ening up the modern) home – Redesigning power dynamics through domestic space digitalisation. The UK consortium for this CHANSE project is co-funded between the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), grant number ES/X005038/1. SMARTUP is supported by Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic; Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt (DLR), Germany; Academy of Finland, Finland; UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), UK; Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Poland under CHANSE ERA-NET Co-fund programme, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, under Grant Agreement no 101004509.