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When it comes to achieving net zero, retrofitting houses is high on the UK government’s agenda to support energy efficiency efforts and drive down emissions.
New housing must adhere to environmental measures, most prominently the 2025 Future Homes Standard (FHS). It’s designed to reduce the residential building sector’s emissions by 75-80% and has prompted housing developers to implement initiatives that help to decarbonise homes.
When it comes to tackling the energy efficiency challenge of older houses though, significant retrofitting will be required if the UK stands a chance of reducing its residential building carbon footprint.
Understanding the housing and net zero challenge
Travel down residential streets in a typical UK town and you’ll no doubt see houses that span decades of construction. From 17th century terraced houses to 19th century bungalows, and whilst these building hold their own architectural charm, they are likely to be emitting vast amounts of CO2.
Data from the Office of National Statistics’ last census highlighted that the older the house the lower the energy efficiency rating, where steps have not been taken to make them more environmentally friendly. Whilst many homes built in England and Wales after 2012 have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of C or above, the data tells a very different picture for older houses. Just 12% of houses built before 1900 in England reported a high energy efficiency rating, and just 8% built in Wales before the 1900s.
Identifying opportunities for retrofitting
There are several options that homeowners and social housing companies can explore when considering retrofitting options to improve energy efficiency.
Insulation
Insulation plays a crucial role in making homes energy-efficient by maintaining temperature, reducing the need for artificial heating or cooling. Many old houses suffer from insufficient insulation, leading to significant heat loss and higher energy bills. Installing or upgrading insulation in these homes is essential for enhancing energy efficiency and comfort.
Improvements that can be considered include cavity wall, flooring, roof, loft, windows, doors, radiators, tanks and pipe insulation.
Solar panels
Installing solar panels to older homes can help to boost energy efficiency. They convert sunlight into electricity, powering your home naturally. This reduces reliance on grid energy and can lead to substantial savings on utility bills. Additionally, solar panels decrease the carbon footprint of historically less efficient buildings, aligning old properties with modern sustainability standards. Excess energy generated can often be sold back to the UK’s grid network to gain credits to offset energy bills. Alternatively, a diverter can be installed to redistribute surplus energy to a hot water tank, or a battery can store electricity for future use.
Heat pumps
Installation of heat pumps to replace gas boilers is another example of improving greenhouse gas emissions. Whilst the government has now scrapped early plans to ban the sales of new gas boilers by 2035, they’re still keen to drive interest in heat pumps.
A heat pump is an eco-friendly heating mechanism that extracts warmth from outdoors and increases its temperature for your home's heating network. It operates using electricity, however it's highly efficient compared with traditional heating. This efficiency has seen an increased interest in installing heat pumps in homes, switching over from gas and oil boilers. An added advantage is that they emit far less CO2 in comparison.
Incentivising the public to switch to heat pumps
To encourage adoption of heat pumps and benefit from the energy efficiencies on a wider scale, the UK government has introduced a new Boiler Upgrade Scheme, providing a generous £7,500 grant to homeowners in England and Wales looking to install this green technology.
Not only do heat pumps promise up to 70% carbon savings and potential annual bill reductions of £100 when paired with smart gas boiler tariffs, they also contribute to the UK's energy independence by reducing the need for imported gas. For those considering this eco-friendly upgrade, the scheme makes it more accessible than ever when the home has a valid Energy Performance Certificate and owners are eligible to join the scheme. For those homeowners residing in Scotland, interest-free loans or grants may also be available to install heat pumps.
Did you know?
You might think having a heat pump outside your home may be noisy, however they are usually only between 40-60 decibels (dB), with typical requirements to not exceed more than 42dB when positioned within one metre of a neighbouring property’s window. Making them both energy efficient and unintrusive, and no louder than a standard refrigerator.
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