Reinventing Retrofit: how to scale up home energy efficiency in the UK

Read Green Alliance's recently published report Reinventing Retrofit

Green Alliance has recently published Reinventing Retrofit. It is part of their three year strategy to focus on decarbonising the heating and transport sectors. This report takes a closer look at a new and innovative approach to improving home energy efficiency called ‘Energiesprong’ (Dutch for energy leap).  

The government has an ambition of improving the UK’s housing stock to the energy performance rating of EPC band C by 2035. This will require a significant ramping up of action to meet the UK’s 2050 climate goals. Energiesprong is a method that could provide an answer. It is a one-step approach to retrofitting homes, resulting in a near net zero energy home. At least 11 million UK homes are suitable

The report's main conclusion is that, at scale, adopting this approach could cut UK domestic peak heat demand by 40 per cent and help decarbonise the heating system at a lower cost than current options. It is also a technique that could help revive the home energy efficiency industry in the UK that has seen productivity flat-lined since 1994.

Green Alliance recommend to the government a ‘commit and review’ approach to Energiesprong, offering innovation support on the condition that the cost per retrofit comes down over time, removing the need for subsidy.  

The work was funded by the Zero Energy Buildings Catalyst (ZEBCat) projected supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project is supporting Energiesprong demonstrations in 15 homes and one office building in Devon, led by the Devon County Council.

Read the report here www.green-alliance.org.uk/resources/reinventing_retrofit