Research

“Model Block” research component

Innovation of the fourth edition of DiverCITY is – in parallel to the workshop part – implementation of a research project. Research performed under the DiverCITY is a continuation of research on tackling air pollution in the blocks of 19th century development and the “Warm/Cold” report prepared under the “Model city revitalisation” (report in Polish language version available at: w-r.com.pl/projekty/cieplozimno/).

The research will enable defining the problems and issues specific for different heating systems in multi-family development. Within the research part, the Research Center for Sustainable Built Environment at the Faculty of Architecture of the Wroclaw University of Technology carry out research of so called „model block” to propose n integrated approach to solve the problem of near-ground emission related to flat heating with the use of solid fuels. Innovation of this initiative is supposed to consist in performance of in-depth socio-technical analysis of the condition of occupied apartments in the block, e.g. actual costs and demand for heat, thermal conditions in the apartment and thermal comfort of inhabitants. The analysis will cover all types of heating systems in the buildings of different energy standards. Also the institutional barriers for implementing the changes to tenement house heating systems will be analysed. This will form the basis to propose tailored activities to eliminate near-ground emissions for each residential building in the researched block of downtown development in the city of Wroclaw. The results will be used in the downtowns of the other cities struggling with near-ground emission.

Presentation and initial discussing of the research results will form an integral part of the conference summarising the DiverCITY project.

The final outcome of research will be a tool available also to the other cities and aimed at planning of investments focused on improving air quality in the downtown districts. This tool will consider all aspects of this issue i.e. among others the property and technical issues, issues related to the protection of historical monuments or tackling energy poverty. It will be also used by (among others) the cities applying for co-financing under the 2014-2021 Local Development Programme financed from the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for preparation and implementation of projects in the area of comprehensive liquidation of near-ground emission.

Research conclusions and recommendations based on these conclusions will also enable precise definition of the potential issues of concern and proposing the scenarios that will affect optimisation of the change implementation process.