What are the Benefits of Retrofitting?

The UK has the oldest and least energy efficient housing stock in Europe with our homes losing heat more than three times faster than those in Norway, according to The Carbon Trust.

Our old housing stock is expensive to heat in the winter but also hard to keep damp-free and cool in the summer.

As such, many people dream about building their own homes to their own specific needs to ensure they’re sustainable, cheaper to run and healthier to live in.

Sustainability Is Important to UK Households

Estate agents Strutt and Parker’s annual survey 2024 showed that 64 per cent of those surveyed reported that sustainability was either important, or very important, and that their next home is already sustainable and environmentally friendly.

And Buying in to the green homes revolution, a report by Santander in 2022, revealed we are willing to pay almost 10 per cent more for energy efficient properties.

Sadly, due to financial barriers, owning an environmentally friendly home remains just a dream for many of us.

However, it’s never too late to retrofit homes with energy saving and green measures which can help save on energy bills and make your home more comfortable.

Energy Saving Lights & Smart Meters

LED lights will cut down on energy use and carbon while installing a smart metre helps you understand how much energy you are using and when.

Insulate, Insulate, Insulate!

Installing insulation at a depth of 270mm in your loft is the single most cost-effective measure when trying to save on energy bills.

You can also insulate walls too, covering it in plaster or cladding and, if your home is pre-1950 and you have suspended floors, you could insulate under the floors.

Double or Triple Glazing

Nearly 9 out of 10 properties already have double glazing according to Statista.com, making a massive difference to energy savings.

However, a high proportion of this was installed pre-2002, so does not benefit from the highest thermal efficiency values offered by triple or high performance double glazing.

Recycle & Reuse

Why not buy a second-hand or ex-display kitchen or bathroom? It saves landfill waste and you could save up to 70 per cent of the recommended price.

Collect Rainwater & Use Low-Flow Flushes

Install a water butt in the garden to use in your garden in drier months. You could also save water from the tumble dryer and washing up bowl.

Another way to halve water bills is to install a rainwater harvesting system works by filtering collected rainwater before storing it below ground at a constant temperature away from light. The water can be used for flushing toilets, washing machines and for the garden.

Dual flushes use just three litres of water for liquids while low flushes use six litres of water.

External blinds keep your Home Cool on Sunny Days

We often concentrate on trying to keep our homes warm yet with climate change, it’s important to keep your home cool in the summer.

With just five degrees between being feeling comfortable or too hot, external blinds are excellent at keeping homes with large windows and doors cool on the hottest of days.

External blinds can reduce the temperature of a home by up to seven degrees compared to solar glass which commonly achieves a reduction of two degrees.

They are easy to retrofit to all types of windows and doors and their special weave allows light into the room while blocking out the sun’s harmful rays.

Finally, they are a great sustainable alternative to expensive, energy-guzzling air conditioning units which need to be serviced annually and de-clogged every two months.

We can advise you on all aspects of a blinds installation, from fabric choices and motorisation options to more complicated elements such as shaped windows, blind concealment, and smart automation systems for heritage, residential or commercial sites.