Retrofitting your home
What is retrofitting and what are the benefits?
Retrofitting is the process of upgrading existing buildings to make them more energy efficient.
There are a number of benefits of retrofitting your home, such as:
- lowering your energy usage, helping you to save money
- thermal comfort in your home, resulting in cooler rooms in the summer and warmer rooms in the winter
- health benefits through reduced exposure to cold, condensation and mould, thereby easing pressure and costs on the NHS related to treating associated illnesses
- improved air quality
- reduced noise pollution
- reducing your home’s carbon emissions and your impact on the environment
- increasing the value of your home through an improved Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
The UK has one of the oldest and least energy efficient housing stock in Europe, while in Solihull, the domestic sector was responsible for 27% of borough emissions in 2021 – the second-highest single source. This means the retrofitting of our domestic housing stock in Solihull has a key role to play in reducing emissions.
Common retrofit measures
We are all feeling the impacts of rising energy bills, meaning there’s never been a better time to consider what changes you can make in your own home. This might range from small activities such as fitting energy-efficient light bulbs to more expensive measures which could save you money in the long term. Common retrofit measures include:
- insulation (solid or cavity wall, loft and floor)
- air or ground source heat pumps
- Solar Photovoltaics (PV) or Solar Thermal panels
- double or triple glazing
- draught proofing
- energy efficient LED lighting
- flexible heating controls such as a thermostat, timer, or thermostatic radiator valve
- improved ventilation
- thick curtains or window shutters to retain heat
- and more...
How do I retrofit my home?
Finding out your home’s EPC rating is a crucial first step to understanding how to make your home more energy efficient. A good EPC rating of at least C will make your home more attractive to potential buyers, increase thermal comfort, and reduce fuel bills. View the Government website to get started.
In order to achieve the best outcome, we recommend finding a TrustMark approved Retrofit Co-ordinator. TrustMark is a Government endorsed quality scheme covering home improvements. You can find TrustMark accredited Retrofit Co-ordinators, suppliers and businesses here. TrustMark also provide a guide on retrofitting your home.
You can also get in touch with our partner Act on Energy on 0800 988 2881 or advice@actonenergy.org.uk, to receive free and impartial advice on how to make your home more energy efficient.
Many residents will choose to finance the retrofit process themselves through options ranging from personal savings, personal loans, installer repayment offers, green mortgages and equity release. There are also a number of grants and funding sources available for home upgrades depending on eligibility. Find out more on our Energy Efficiency Grants page.
Useful resources
There is a range of further advice and help available below:
- our Here2Help page provides information on how to keep your home warm, reduce your energy usage and save you money.
- the Government’s Help for Households campaign offers tips on how to save energy and lower your bills.
- Birmingham Green Doors host free events for residents to visit retrofitted properties in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) Report
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change requires local authorities in England to provide a report every two years, setting out the energy conservation measures that the authority considers practicable, cost-effective and likely to result in significant improvement in the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in the area.
You can find a 2 page summary of the report for Solihull here.