Introduction to Retrofit


What is retrofit?

Retrofit is a word that is being used more often. You may or may not have heard of it before, but you may have heard of some of the measures that are part of a home retrofit.

Retrofit is the process of making changes to existing homes. Retrofitting your home can be a way to save energy and reduce our carbon emissions.

 

Why should I consider retrofitting my home?

In Scotland, we have a target to reach Net Zero by 2045. As a nation, a large proportion of our carbon emissions come from powering and heating our homes.

As a result of the cost of living crisis, energy bills are much higher than we were previously used to. One of the best ways to save money on our bills is to reduce the energy we use. Retrofitting our homes can play a huge part in that.

There’s also the added benefit of having homes that are more comfortable and healthier to live in. An energy-efficient home is warmer and has fewer issues with condensation and dampness.

 

What would a retrofitted home look like?

Various measures and technologies can be installed in a home to bring it up to a high energy efficiency standard. Retrofit professionals should take a ‘whole house’ approach.

This is where they look at the fabric (walls, lofts, floors) and systems (heating, hot water, lighting). Each home is different so the right solution for each property will vary according to its shape, size and condition.

 

Fabric

You can retrofit the fabric of your home in several ways. The aim is to minimise heating loss and maximise air tightness.

Insulating your roof by installing loft insulation is often a simple ‘quick-win’ that a retrofit professional can take as part of the process.

You could also consider insulating cavities in walls or fitting external or internal wall insulation to solid walls.

 

Systems

Upgrading heat and hot water systems can drastically improve a home’s energy efficiency. Often this will involve moving away from fossil-fuelled appliances such as gas or oil boilers and installing alternatives. These could include heat pumps, high heat-retention storage heaters, biomass systems, or a district heat network connection.

You can install other renewable technologies, such as solar photovoltaic or solar thermal panels and energy storage systems such as a battery.

 

Are funding or grants available to help?

Yes. Both the UK and Scottish Governments are committed to improving the energy efficiency of our homes. We recommend speaking to our friends at Home Energy Scotland to assess whether financial support is available.

You can also find information on what grants and funding are currently available in our funding and grants guide.

Get advice

Cosy Kingdom is a free and impartial energy advice service available to anyone living in Fife. Our energy advisors can provide advice on which energy efficiency measures you could install in your property, alongside help to get financial support.

Our energy advisors can be contacted by: