Home retrofit drive could create future e-waste problem, researchers warn.
The UK’s push to make homes more energy efficient could create a new waste problem if low-carbon technologies aren’t designed with their full lifespan in mind, researchers have warned.
Heat pumps, solar panels and home battery systems are expected to play a major role in helping the UK cut carbon emissions and reduce household energy bills. But while these technologies are becoming more common, researchers say far less attention is being paid to what happens when they wear out, become outdated or need replacing.
Many of the products currently being installed are difficult to repair or upgrade, meaning homeowners may end up replacing entire systems instead of fixing them. Over time, that could create a growing stream of electronic waste while increasing demand for new raw materials. Researchers believe the answer lies in taking a lifecycle approach to home retrofits rather than simply focusing on energy savings.
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‘We need long-term plans that take the whole life cycle of materials and technologies into account,’ they said, arguing that decisions made during design and installation will affect how easily products can be repaired, reused or recycled years down the line.
One proposal is the wider use of ‘materials passports’ – digital records containing information about the products and materials used in a building. Rather than becoming lost once construction is complete, components could be tracked throughout their lifetime, making it easier to repair, recover or reuse them in future projects.
The researchers also support the idea of ‘building passports’, giving homeowners a digital record of the materials, technologies and retrofit work carried out on their property. They say this would make future maintenance and upgrades far simpler while helping to reduce unnecessary waste.
The issue is particularly important in the UK, where much of the housing stock is ageing and in need of improvement. Around half of homes in England have an Energy Performance Certificate rating below band C, prompting government schemes designed to encourage large-scale retrofitting.
But the researchers argue that upgrading homes shouldn’t come at the expense of creating another environmental problem.
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Instead of demolishing buildings or replacing materials wherever possible, they recommend retaining existing buildings, recovering valuable materials through planned deconstruction and designing products that can be maintained throughout their lifetime. They also call for greater standardisation of materials passports so information can be shared more easily across the construction industry.
Improving repairability will also require better access to spare parts, clearer maintenance information and more training for installers and engineers, the researchers say.
As millions of homes are upgraded over the coming decades, they believe a more circular approach to design could help ensure today’s retrofit programmes don’t become tomorrow’s waste problem.
Sources: The Conversation; npj Materials Sustainability.