Decarbonisation Measure Assessment Tool (DeMAT)

About the project

This collaborative project between ICAX and Welsh social housing provider (SHP) Pobl, addressing the need for fast, efficient, and low-cost assessment of existing building stock to meet decarbonisation targets. In 2024/25, Pobl must deliver in excess of £11,000,000 of energy efficiency measures to homes, primarily delivering fabric improvements and providing electricity generation, storage and heating systems. Many UK SHPs face similar challenges, with decision-making often based on one-off consultancy inputs that aren’t scalable.

Prior to this project, ICAX developed a prototype rapid assessment tool for another Welsh SHP, using their property management data to evaluate building performance and test decarbonisation measures. This tool allows for quick prioritisation of improvements without relying on costly and intrusive on-site testing. The other SHP has successfully used it to select measures for individual properties, and both parties are confident in its effectiveness.

This project focuses on creating an online, portable version of the tool with enhanced features and accuracy. A sample of properties will undergo on-site testing to cross-check the tool’s performance. Once completed, the tool can be licensed to other SHPs and adapted for use by owner-occupiers and new-build developers, offering a scalable solution for decarbonisation efforts across the UK housing sector.

What has the project successfully delivered?

• A working online app has successfully been created complete with attractive UI.
• Feedback has been provided by Pobl, the social housing provider partner, and implemented into the app by ICAX. This is continuous throughout the project and has been a very effective method of ensuring the created app best caters for the target social housing market.
• Real-word air tightness tests have been carried out on several of Pobl’s homes to validate the app.
• A thermal heat loss model has been created by ICAX based on housing data supplied by Pobl for the same homes to validate the app.

What has the project achieved?

Pobl now have a working application that they can use to decision make and decarbonise their housing stock. However, as the project is still in progress, they are continuously making improvements to the app and have more real-world tests planned to further validate the app.

Key lessons learned

Each social housing organisation have different levels of data available on existing properties. Working with Pobl has given light to possible solutions to overcome this.

Next steps

If you are a social housing provider and have a portfolio of homes that you need to decarbonise, please get in touch with ICAX and they can assess how the app can help you.

Project partners

• Valleys to Coast Housing