Installers with sustainable renovation skills are essential to deliver low carbon buildings. A performance gap often exists between the modelled expectation of reductions in domestic CO₂ emissions, and what newly renovated buildings achieve (Zero Carbon Hub, 2014). One reason for this can be poor detailing and workmanship by installers. In addition, householders have reported dissatisfaction with the levels of sustainable building expertise and advice offered by installers. Many installers work within the Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) industry as Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs). Installers have been found to favour on-the-job training, however, without formal training the average builder can struggle to consider the ‘whole-house approach’ necessary for sustainable renovation, good air quality and minimising moisture risks. The findings discussed in this paper stem from a Leeds based workshop and following meetings, held to gather key stakeholders from local Government, developers, construction firms, charities, colleges and research. The aim was to develop course content themes for a pilot curriculum on sustainable building skills, which can be applied to the renovation sector. Existing training approaches were discussed, which could be further developed for SME installers to access on a wider scale. These included formal methods of training, which apprenticeship can now sit alongside, hosted at a college and on the job training. This paper discusses the key course themes arising which could address the sustainable renovation skills shortage within the RMI industry, reflecting on the different approaches.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)