DETERMINER Project Launch

Led by Dr Mithila Achintha

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Announcing the launch of the DETERMINER project, led by Dr Mithila Achintha.  DETERMINER is an ambitious EPSRC/IAA knowledge exchange project delivers in collaboration with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) focusing on lowering the embodied carbon footprint of home retrofitting and new build homes projects.

Decarbonisation of other sectors of the economy means buildings-related carbon emissions are projected to be ~90% of the total emissions in 2050. DETERMINER project develops methods for lowering the Embodied Carbon footprint of the buildings via the use of bio-based and waste-based materials together with the development of digital tools for minimising and managing the embodied carbon footprint of retrofitting and new build home schemes. As one of the projects supported by CNCA’s “European Cities Pioneering Low-Carbon Buildings for a Just Transition” initiative, DETERMINER aims to share and disseminate the knowledge between over 10 major European cities/metropolitan areas project partners.

Delivery of low carbon new homes and retrofitting existing homes for enhanced energy efficiency supports EPSRC’s ‘Built Environment’ research area and the University of Manchester’s ‘Sustainable Futures’ research platform and ‘Net-zero Futures’ research agenda.

Embedding this new capability of carbon quantification within GMCA will enable organisations within Greater Manchester to make decisions on best materials, installations, techniques that would ensure the lowest embodied carbon of the home retrofitting and new build homes and will accelerate GMCA’s progress towards carbon neutrality by 2038. The ability to measure the embodied carbon of new build homes will support the objectives of the Truly Affordable Net Zero (TANZ) homes project, and RetrofitGM, the Task Force established to help tackle Greater Manchester’s urgent retrofitting challenge. With improved understanding of the embodied carbon implications of TANZ and retrofit homes, GMCA can support partners and the supply chain to move more quickly on reducing embodied carbon.

Mary Gogarty, Principal – Housing Strategy; Anees Mank, Programme Policy Lead – Retrofit; and Jasmine Tebb, Policy Officer – Low Carbon will be the key members of the GMCA team liaising on this project.

For further information email: GreenCity@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk

Related article: Calculating the Carbon impact of Building Retrofit Works – GM Green City

DETERMINER Team Photo
Pictured left to right are Gaurav Chand, Research Assistant, UoM; Mary Gogarty, Principal – Housing Strategy, GMCA; Mithila Achintha – Associate Professor, UoM; Anees Mank, Programme Policy Lead – Retrofit, GMCA; and Jasmine Tebb, Policy Officer – Low Carbon, GMCA who will be the key members of the team on this project.

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