Retrofit: What does it Mean?

Retrofit, in the context of energy efficiency, is making changes to existing buildings so that carbon emissions as well as energy consumption are reduced. This consists of having energy-saving measures installed in your home including insulation and low-carbon heating alternatives.

The word ‘retrofit’ has been around for a long time and is commonly used when talking about retrofitting cars for example.

In recent times, it has been used across media when discussing the importance of upgrading the energy efficiency of homes. We’ve probably all heard this being talked about a lot recently, given the spotlight on rising energy bills and the importance of finding ways to lower our fuel bills.

In this guide, we explore home energy retrofit, why demand from householders is growing during the energy bill crisis, and exactly what measures we can install to help reduce our energy consumption.

Why is home energy retrofit so important?

Across the UK, householders are struggling with rising energy bills. It is a challenging and worrying time for us all, especially those on lower incomes with less disposable income available to cover the rise in costs.

According to the National Energy Action (NEA), a fuel poverty charity, they estimate that the number of UK households in fuel poverty is 6.5 million. This is staggering. Given the current energy bill crisis, this number is expected to rise, meaning more households will be finding their energy bills simply unaffordable.

There are several factors which have led to an increase in our energy bills. According to Ofgem, the increase is driven by a record rise in global gas prices, with wholesale prices quadrupling. This additional cost is then passed on to us as the energy consumer.

Retrofitting homes to improve energy efficiency and change the way we heat our homes, has never been so important.

Energy home retrofit is part of the solution

With energy bills on the rise, many householders are looking at ways to save money on their energy bills.

You can take a proactive approach by installing energy efficiency measures, such as insulation and low-carbon heating, to reduce energy use and therefore your energy bills.

Benefits of installing energy-saving measures

• Reduced energy bills
• Helping to reduce your carbon footprint
• Increased comfort
• Improves the desirability of your home with an increased energy efficiency rating
• Health benefits

According to the Office for National Statistics, three-fifths of assessed homes in England and Wales have low energy efficiency ratings. Surprisingly, however, in the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, less than a fifth of people in Great Britain were considering improving their home’s energy efficiency.

We are here to support you, if you need further help with any of the above, please contact us here.