Case studies success stories

Building Southampton's First Carbon Neutral Homes

(article from Southampton City Council website)

Southampton's carbon footprint is set to be reduced after planning permission was granted by Southampton City Council for 11 new zero carbon rated homes.

Radian Housing has been granted permission to build cutting edge carbon neutral homes on unused land at Stoneham Cemetery Road. These homes will be the first in the city to meet the government's highest environmental impact rating system for sustainable homes, Level 6, and is six years ahead of schedule.

Councillor Peter Baillie, Southampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "This is great news for Hampshire with Southampton leading the way to build homes that are zero carbon rated. 

Financing Energy Efficiency

Financing Energy Efficiency in Europe's Housing: Public Demand and Political Leadership needed

The conference 'Financing energy efficiency in housing: a European priority' was held at the European Parliament on the 4th of May.

Paul Ciniglio from Radian Housing Association, one of the first organisations in the UK to make use of the new possibility of using ERDF funds for energy efficiency in housing,
said the measure was making a huge and very welcome difference on the ground while stressing the need for flexibilty in the granting of funds which would allow regions to set
their own priorities. Juan Alario from the European Investment Bank listed loans the Bank has already made to support refurbishment and promote renewables but highlighted the fact that we need to transform renovation into an industry.

Read more about this conference see page 3 on the attached pdf. (Size: 253.00 Kb)

Generation Homes – Low Carbon Retrofit

20 Radian homes in Highfield Road, Petersfield, constructed from reinforced pre-cast concrete and known as Reema homes, are being transformed by Radian as part of our response to meet the Government target of reducing carbon emissions by 80% on 1990 levels by 2050 (through the Climate Change Act).

These properties are classified as 'hard to treat' in terms of energy efficiency improvements as they are of non-traditional construction and do not have cavity walls.

Radian is aiming to transform these homes, built in the late 1940's and designed to last just 30 years, from poor quality degenerating housing stock to nice environments where people are happy to live. At the same time they will reduce average household energy running costs, which currently average about £1,200 pa, and reduce CO2 by 70%.

Mr Childs, a resident of Highfield Road for 53 years who has moved back into his old home after the work had been completed, has said, "I love my new home. Both the house and I have been given a new lease of life"

For more information about this ongoing Radian project please click here to see the complete case study document.

Sustain Awards Winner

2nd March 2010

Radian extended its award winning pedigree at the Sustain Magazine Awards held at Chelsea Football Club on Tuesday 2nd March. The national awards which celebrate the UK's leading organisations in Sustainability, Business and the Built Environment, recognised Radian as being the best for its contribution to saving energy.

The Award for Energy was handed to Radian for its pioneering project in Highfield Road, in Petersfield. This exemplar project has seen the retrofit of a group of 20 homes constructed from reinforced pre-cast concrete, and classified as 'hard to treat' in terms of energy efficiency improvements as they are of non-traditional construction and do not have cavity walls. The finished homes have been refurbished to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 85%, improving the Energy Performance Certificate band from E to B, and from a standard Assessment Process rating of 43 to 85.

Click here for the full press release

Review Of Radian's Retrofit Conference

Radian’s reputation as a leader in sustainable development was confirmed by a sold out audience at theirinaugural retrofit conference in Liphook, Hampshire on Friday 27th November. 180 delegates from all over the country turned up to benefit from the experience Radian has gained from its pioneering retrofit work.

The packed audience also witnessed passionate presentations from David Orr, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, Government advisor Andrew Lee and the co-creator of BREEAM, John Doggart, amongst others. The conference ended with an expert panel, made up from the speakers, taking questions from the floor. 

The overriding message from the speakers was that although it is an enormous project, the retrofitting of 500,000 homes per year nationwide for the next 40 years is achievable if the funding is put in place through incentive schemes such as Pay As You Save, and perhaps more importantly the desire is instilled within communities to make the changes to aid climate control.

Click here for the full press release