The Environment

Retrofit your home

Modern building regulations mean that newer homes should be built with plenty of insulation and an efficient heating system. However, if your home is slightly older, it could be in need of an energy makeover. The home energy retrofit approach looks at your property as a whole and offers a step-by-step practical plan for reducing your home’s overall impact on the environment.

Learn more about the importance of an efficient home energy setup in this video.

The first thing you’ll need to do is find a specialist retrofit company, through the Government-endorsed TrustMark scheme. An assessor will visit your home and take notes about your existing insulation, boiler and other energy measures you have in place, and a coordinator will put a plan together and explain how you can make step-by-step improvements at a pace that suits you. 

The plan will take a ‘fabric-first’ approach, which means it will prioritise making sure your property has good wall, loft and floor insulation as well as sufficient doors, windows and ventilation. Your plan will then look at your heating system, controls, lighting and potential for energy generation (such as solar panels) as secondary priorities.

Improving your home’s energy efficiency can reduce your gas and electricity bills because less energy is required to heat your home. Plus, by using less energy, you’ll be releasing fewer carbon emissions and making a smaller impact on the environment.