Wave 2.1 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) was launched in September 2022 and the November 2022 deadline for applications is fast approaching. Social housing technology innovator Switchee provides a single solution enabling landlords to monitor, measure, and validate SHDF projects, providing real-time data for thermal performance, risk alerts, and the ability to digitally communicate with residents.
What is the SHDF?
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is an opportunity for registered providers of social housing to receive funding for energy performance improvements of their homes. In 2020, the SHDF Demonstrator round awarded a total of £61 million to 16 local authorities for 18 projects and Wave 1 saw £179 million offered to 69 projects in the 2021/2022 financial year. Smart Heating Controls, which includes Switchee, are an eligible measure that can be included in the capital costs of the project. Switchee was instrumental in most of the demonstrator projects and included in numerous SHDF Wave 1 retrofits with Housing Providers including, but not limited to Clarion, Prima Group and PlusDane Housing. Wave 2.1 is worth £800 million across the next 3 years to selected providers in the sector.
The Wave 2 bid has seen the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) set aside an optional innovation support of up to 2% of capital spend per bid, or a maximum of £600k per bid (including grant and co-funding), to assist in the digitalisation of retrofit. The purpose of this is to enable those undertaking the projects to include technology that will help both validate the measures and help scale the retrofit sector.
The definition of the digitalisation of retrofit considered for SHDF Wave 2.1 funding encompasses:
- The usage of smart technology, sensors and monitoring platforms to collect relevant real world data (from the properties being retrofitted) for the assessment of properties to enable retrofit, or after retrofit for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
- The usage of building information modelling technology to design retrofit solutions using real world data from the properties being retrofitted.
- The usage of energy efficiency measurement and electricity demand management tools to optimise energy usage, including reducing peak demand.
- Other innovative digital technologies may be considered where they are clearly distinct from typical retrofit practice (where typical practice includes conventional stock modelling) and drive benefits in cost or time efficiency, scalability, or quality of information.
Applicants using this definition should define why the technology is innovative, what the benefits are, and how this technology will improve the homes and lives of residents.
How can Switchee add value?
“Switchee provides a single solution to aid validation of projects. Providing real time data for thermal performance, including risk alerts, as well as the ability to digitally communicate with residents”
The demonstrable real-time insights and Switchee’s involvement in the BEIS innovation project around heat transfer coefficient (HTC) has been instrumental in the introduction of the allocation of the 2% budget for innovation.
Switchee is the largest provider of Smart Heating Controls within the UK Social Housing Market. Switchee combines intelligent analytics and smart in-home technology to provide valuable insights into property performance. By using the GSM network, there is no need for residents to have WiFi and all sensor data is collected remotely.
With Switchee harnessing data, including time to heat, time to cool, humidity, and temperature, SHDF projects can be accurately validated.
In addition, Switchee is a two-way communication device between the Housing Provider and the tenant. With an average 90% response rate, Switchee adds value to SHDF projects, Housing Providers and residents with surveys and energy efficiency advice being offered.
Switchee’s solution provides you with real-time insights to enable landlords to identify properties at risk. Furthermore, incorporating accurate property performance through the digital innovation pathway will add value to your bid submission and provide you with evidence of how effective the measures are. Together with Switchee, we can support you in shaping future decisions, ensuring effective project spend and improving the quality of life for people living in rented homes.
To learn more about how Switchee can add value to your Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) projects and support your bid, download our guide.
