2024
aKT Project: Cardiff Met and Tasika Ltd
The 3-month Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (aKT) project, funded by Innovate UK, explored using IoT to enhance accuracy and data accessibility in monitoring operational performance and user comfort in dwellings. It involved collaboration between Tasika Ltd and the University and aimed to leverage Internet of Things (IoT) to improve the monitoring and management of residential buildings.
Company feedback on the project was that ‘working with Cardiff Met on the aKT was an immense step change for Tasika. It opened up a new set of skills not otherwise available in our business and also helped add credibility and focus to our engagement with target organisations.’
A further funded collaboration building on the success of the aKT is being explored and developed.
2023
Development of Mycelium based thermal insulation for house in collaboration with Seven Oaks Modular
This was a six-month feasibility project with a value of £100,000, co-funded by Innovate UK for the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which is led by/co-funded by Sevenoaks Modular and in collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University. The project commenced in the summer of 2023 entitled ‘Mycelium Utilisation for Sustainable Housing’ (MUSH). The project was designed to assist Sevenoaks Modular to further expand their use of natural materials for insulating timber-frame closed panel and modular modern methods of construction (MMC) which they manufacture. The project aimed to utilise waste streams locally and provide secondary uses for agricultural crops and feed stocks, to reduce the embodied carbon and increase circularity of MMC systems.
2022
TAISO KTP
This is an Optimised Retrofit project funded by Welsh Government with a value of £100,000, with Tai Tarian Housing Association as the Principal Investigator and in collaboration with Sevenoaks Modular entitled ‘Timber Advanced Innovation for a Sustainable Offsite’ (TAISO). TAISO commenced in June 2022 and is developing an accurate 3D measurement and surveying process of existing dwellings, which are to be retrofitted, using 3D laser scanning for the creation of digital asset models. The digital asset models are informing the development of timber frame panel solutions to be retrofitted to several of Tai Tarian Housing Association’s existing dwellings, to reduce their operational energy use and carbon emissions and maximise occupant comfort.
Here is a video featuring Seven Oaks Modula Operations Director, Charlote Hale discussing the benefits of the KPT project: Knowledge Transfer Partnership | Cardiff Metropolitan University & Seven Oaks Modular
Down to Zero
Co-funded by Cynon Taf Community Housing Group and the Welsh Government and in collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University, this 12-month SMART Partnership project looks at benchmarking organisational carbon emissions and has a value of £85,330.30. The project commenced in October 2022 entitled ‘Cynon Taf Housing Association Carbon Reduction and Land-Based Carbon Sequestration Strategy’ and is helping to investigating opportunities for land-based carbon sequestration and carbon storage through food and biochar production.
Here is a news article about the impact of the project: Down to Zero: Cynon Taf Community Housing Group takes an innovative approach to decarbonisation | Business Wales