Cost and value of refurbishment : retrofitting social housing for low energy affordable comfort

Abstract

Today, in low-income Maltese homes thermal comfort is considered a social commodity. Affordable energy bills have become first priority relative to retrofitting for energy efficiency and comfort in the home. In consideration that domestic electricity tariffs have been reduced by as much as 25%, as part of a social benefit scheme, few families have taken up the opportunity to retrofit for curtailing their energy bills. There are also plans by the Government of Malta to retrofit social housing, typically the external fabric, with a view to render them more affordable to heat and cool as well as to improve the social status of the families and enhance the aesthetic appeal of such housing. This paper investigates options for retrofitting through both objective and subjective audits, as well as running simulations to test out such retrofit options.