Buildings account for around a third of urban emissions, making retrofitting essential to achieving Net Zero goals. However, the energy performance of retrofitted buildings is largely influenced by the local microclimate such as urban heat islands, wind flow, and radiative exchanges between buildings. Therefore, retrofit outcomes can vary significantly across cities, which remains insufficiently addressed in current practice. The UMAR project investigates how these microclimatic factors influence retrofit effectiveness and climate resilience. Using Plymouth as a case study, the project integrates urban and building-scale climate modelling to capture variations in temperature, wind, and radiation that affect energy use in social housing. By combining physical simulation, stakeholder collaboration, and economic assessment, UMAR aims to develop practical, data-driven guidance for housing providers and policymakers.
Urban Microclimate-Aware Retrofitting framework for climate-resilient energy demand reduction (UMAR)
Project overview
Key objectives
Objectives of this project include:
- To develop a framework that integrates microclimate effects into retrofit planning.
- To quantify energy demand reductions under future climate scenarios.
- To assess financial feasibility of retrofit strategies under different urban conditions.
- To support local authorities and housing providers with data-driven decision tools.
Methods and approaches
The project combines urban-building climate modelling, scenario simulation, and cost-benefit analysis. High-resolution microclimate data will be generated for selected Plymouth neighbourhoods to assess how retrofit measures, such as insulation, shading, and cool roofs, perform under varied local conditions and future climates. Collaboration with Plymouth Community Homes ensures real-world relevance, while stakeholder workshops will translate results into actionable guidance for practice and policy. This mixed-modelling and engagement approach enables scalable, evidence-based retrofit planning.
Next steps and future work
The project will generate detailed microclimate datasets for selected Plymouth neighbourhoods, simulate a range of retrofit strategies under future climate scenarios, and assess their energy and cost implications. Working closely with local partners and stakeholders, the team will co-design practical retrofit pathways that reflect real-world housing and policy contexts. A stakeholder workshop is planned for summer/autumn 2026. While centred on Plymouth, the project will deliver a transferable framework for climate-resilient energy planning that can be applied across other UK cities.
