This use case is from DG Cities.
Outcome
The main outcome of the project is a greater understanding of conditions in our housing stock and a wealth of data relating to conditions that lead to damp and mould. By gaining access to this data we have been able to monitor conditions in homes over time, without relying on costly and time consuming in-person visits that has the potential to add efficiency to local authority housing divisions. We are able to understand how conditions change over time and identify key trends in the data.
In addition to key trends, by combining data from damp and mould sensors with existing datasets on housing age and archetypes, we can start to identify specific problems that are shared by properties of a similar age and building type. This information can help housing departments to make assumptions about different housing types that is supported by data. For example, we find similar issues across the majority of solid brick homes which is useful when designing different interventions. As well as identifying issues and potential interventions, damp and mould sensors allow us to monitor the performance of homes before and after interventions are put in place, which allows us to effectively evaluate the impact of interventions and make recommendations for scale-up. This is key in building and developing business cases for organisations.
Finally, we found that access to this data improves the way in which we are able to engage with residents around damp and mould. We can understand how both structural and behavioural components can increase the risk of damp and mould in properties, and work with residents to identify different solutions. The data also provides evidence, which is effective in delivering different messaging to residents.
Sectors
Local authority, Housing, Temporary Accommodation, Public Sector, Social Housing
Key Stakeholders
Damp and Mould, Repairs and Investment, Housing and Safer Communities
Overview
In 2022 DG Cities approached Royal Greenwich with a recommendation to test the potential of IoT sensors to improve the delivery of their damp and mould response. We designed a trial programme for 160 council homes, with the aim of testing the benefits of environmental sensors and building a business case for their use, focusing on evaluation and analysis.
Following our market assessment, we opted for AICO environmental sensors, outlining their product and offer to council officers. DG Cities designed and managed the pilot project, working closely with council officers to understand internal processes and identify areas for improvement, as well as engaging closely with AICO to maximise the value of data insights.
About the Author
DG Cities is an innovation company owned by Greenwich Council. DG Cities has a wealth of experience and expertise in delivering public sector projects and working with local authorities and central government bodies, such as the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Hackney Council, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, OFGEM and UKRI. DG Cities sits at the interface between local government and business, allowing us to make the connection between innovative technological solutions and real-world problems.
Case Study Challenge
How can IoT be used in social housing to complement existing damp and mould processes, and encourage a shift away from reactive repairs, to pro-active?
Use Case Design Objectives
The project was designed to be implemented in social housing, in line with the Council’s priorities around damp and mould. The goal was to assess the viability of sensors in supporting the transformation of the council’s approach to damp and mould, and the potential to move to a more pro-active strategy.
Commissioning (budget/procurement)
The Royal Borough of Greenwich Council commissioned DG Cities, its innovation company, to research, develop, manage, implement and evaluate the use of environmental sensors in Council homes with a history of damp and mould. Following as assessment of alternative options currently available AICOHomeLink were chosen as the provider of the sensors due to the technical specification of their product, their expertise and reputation, as well as their existing relationship with the Council. Devices were procured in line with the Council’s procurement process, which was led by the Repairs and Investment team in the Housing and Safer Communities division.
Deployment (what / who / where / how long)
500 Environmental sensors were installed in 160 council homes across Royal Greenwich, covering 42 estates. In each home residents were given three environmental sensors to monitor temperature and humidity over time across three different rooms. Installation and initial monitoring has been completed and monitoring over a 12 month has commenced to take account of seasonal variances.
Technology Implemented
AICO Environmental Sensors
Results / Key Findings
We were able to identify damp and mould risk across all 160 properties where devices were installed, ranking properties as Low, Medium and High risk, as well as providing a risk score out of 100.
We were also able to develop an understanding of potential causes of damp and mould, based on the way conditions change in homes over time. The devices provide the council with insights into different components that contribute to damp and mould risk, highlighting structural issues as well as behavioural components. DG Cities found that these insights were useful, but understood the limitations of the tech and found ways to improve the data’s usability with our own analysis, turning it into a more effective tool for the Council and other local authorities. This allowed us to unlock new opportunities and full potential for the use of environmental sensors and develop more cost-effective ways of expanding their use.
Benefits / Usefulness of Data
We found that the devices offered high-level insights into the condition of housing stock, but were less effective in providing actionable insights for a local authority. For example, damp and mould risk scores are a useful way of identifying trends across the housing stock and providing an overall summary of conditions, which can be used to prioritise homes for inspections and repairs. However, this information is not robust enough to inform programmes such as retrofit, or structural repairs, and requires more advanced methods of data analysis and reporting.
The component data, generated by analysing the performance of homes in relation to damp and mould, offers a more detailed insight into homes but falls short of recommending suitable actions to tackle the problem. In identifying these limitations, we provided bespoke data analysis and process mapping to deliver actionable insights to the Council, transforming data from the devices into strategies and programmes, ultimately helping to improve housing conditions and operational efficiency.
Lessons Learned
We found that undertaking additional data analysis is necessary in order to deliver actionable insights to the Council. Our trial showed us that the Council requires additional information in order to act on insights from the devices, including supplementary guidance from damp surveyors and additional data analysis. We found that the devices alone cannot replace existing processes, but rather complement them, and have the potential to add value following detailed consultation with council officers, who can assist in identifying opportunities within their process where the devices can add value.
Due to the cost of installing devices, we learnt that it is not always viable to install environmental sensors on a large scale. As such, we found that combining device data with existing council housing stock data can produce an effective way of identifying conditions in homes without the extensive deployment of sensors. DG Cities conducted bespoke data analysis to identify ways in which device value can be extended across the housing stock. Where a lack of funding can limit the effectiveness of sensors, data analysis performs a key role in realising real benefits at a large scale.
Conclusion
Environmental sensors offer a useful way for local authorities to have 24-hour monitoring of conditions in homes, which is particularly useful in properties that are known to be at risk of damp and mould. In properties with a history of damp and mould issues and repeated visits over time, where there no known cause, environmental sensors can be a useful tool to understand conditions and potential causes of damp and mould. While there are numerous limitations involved in their use, the use of intelligent and well-planned data analysis can add value to existing processes, and act as another tool for local authorities in their management of damp and mould.
Contact
For further information, please contact the service leads involved in this project, listed below.
Balazs Csuvar
Director of Innovation & Net Zero
DG Cities
Balazs.csuvar@dgcities.com
