Retrofit advice

Retrofit can be a complicated and daunting process. To help homeowners make the right decisions, we have listed three sources of advice below

• A good source of advice is your home's energy performance certificate.
• This certificate gives a property a rating from A (most energy efficient) to G (least energy efficient).
• This certificate is valid for 10 years.
• This certificate contains information about:
  • a property’s energy use and typical energy costs.
  • recommendations to improve a property’s energy efficiency and save money.
• An EPC is needed whenever a property is built, sold, or rented. Failure to have a valid EPC can result in a £200 fine.
• You can find out if your property has already had an EPC assessment search for free on the Government’s register. You can also view the EPC of other properties free of charge.
• If your property does not have an EPC or it has expired, you can find an EPC assessor online. An EPC assessment can cost between £35-£120 depending on:
  • the size of your property,
  • the location of your property,
  • the type of building.
• Obtaining quotes from multiple assessors can ensure you are getting the best deal.
• The energy rating of a home is calculated according to the number of Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) points a property has. Find out which measures carry which amount of points and view the current SAP standard (Version 10.2).

• We have partnered with Parity Projects to help bring a low carbon home renovation service to residents. The service will
• help assess the energy efficiency of your home,
• identify works to improve the property,
• can help you to get quotations from accredited contractors.
• Access the Ecofurb website and use the free “Plan Builder” The Plan Builder helps you understand which energy efficiency measures would have the most impact for your home. You can then choose to book a home survey for £540 if you would like the in person support of a professional.

• The Energy Saving Trust has a free to use Home Energy Check online tool. This tool can help you identify the best improvement measures for your property.
• The tool will ask for information such as
  • your property age,
  • type of external walls,
  • heating system,
  • energy type.
• The calculator will also provide approximate cost and savings of the measures.

Access the Home Energy Check tool