I love the idea of a whole house retrofit plan. It’s perfect: someone visiting your home to assess energy efficiency, tell you what you can do to improve it and how to go about achieving it. It’s all the questions we had when starting our Victorian retrofit.
So in order to understand more about the process, I was invited by the National Energy Foundation (NEF) to observe a HERO (Home Energy Retrofit Options) assessment process. This is part of a scheme run by the NEF to promote energy efficiency in homes in the UK and is aimed at homes of under 150 square metres with six or less habitable rooms. The ‘retrofit lite’ plan is set at the lower cost of £350 to encourage more people to make their homes energy efficient.
The assessment process
The house in question is a three bedroom 1920s detached house in a conservation area. It is a cold house with some areas troubled by mould, indicating problems with ventilation. The original building is a single brick build with suspended floors. A small extension has a cavity wall – it’s not known if this is filled – and a concrete floor. Windows are double glazed but draughty in places.
The owners are very concerned about the climate so want to do all they can to reduce their energy usage, as well as make the home more comfortable to live in.
Home visit
At the outset, the assessor sat down with the owners and myself to talk through what they wanted from the report, what they knew about their house so far and any areas of particular concern. The owners underlined their commitment to the environment and their desire for an air source heat pump and solar PV (if possible in the conservation area).
This was a very constructive conversation that helped the owners understand more about their home and what might be necessary to get the outcomes they wanted.
House tour
We then walked around the house, visiting each room to identify the areas of concern and discuss options.
Some specific issues came to light:
- The need for greater levels of ventilation. There was talk about extractors, opening existing trickle vents in double glazed windows (something the owners didn’t know about), opening windows on a regular basis.
- One bedroom had mould in the corner of the wardrobe. Ideas were put forward for reducing this: dehumidifier inside the wardrobe, leaving the door open, reducing the quantity of garments to allow greater air flow.
- The loft is insulated in places but also needs improved levels in some areas.
The visit lasted over two hours and was a very positive experience for the owners. They learned a great deal about their house and how it was functioning. They’d been able to talk through options with regard to a heat pump and solar. It was clear they have a big job on their hands, but the assessor assured them that the report would show how they could achieve this over time and in a way that fitted the budget.
So overall a positive experience.
The report
The report produced is very detailed and written in a way that is easy to understand. Options are included with links through to other places where the owners can find more information.
Data is provided about possible cost and outcomes:
At present, the house has an EPC (Energy Performance Rating) of 61D and annual fuel costs of £1,995. The carbon footprint of the building is 4.68. (UK average carbon footprint is 3 tons per year)
The different stages of the work are then mapped out in five stages with comparison measures achieved at the completion of each stage.
The final reckoning is that the EPC could improve to a 95A, the annual fuel costs would come down to £207pa with a carbon footprint of 0.9.
The overall cost of all the work was estimated to be in the region of £80K.
How did the homeowner find the process?
The owners were very happy with the process and the clarity of the options presented. As expected the implementation of the solutions was not likely to be particularly straightforward, but the whole exercise was helpful in clarifying what they were up against.
They very much appreciated being part of the process and whilst there was a lot of information to take on board the assessor explained things clearly and listened carefully to their concerns.
Positives
Very inclusive process with lots of opportunity to ask questions and explore alternatives. Excellent detailed report and information pack.
The pack went far beyond anything they could have researched themselves. Retrofitting the house will be a significant project and together the report and pack provided a framework for steps to be taken. The follow up phone call with the assessor was also reassuring and encouraged the owners to start implementing the smaller steps whilst they assessed the other work to be done.
Concerns:.
Slight concern that their strong environmental focus wasn’t always being given the priority they would have liked.
Was the energy assessment what I expected?
Positives: I found the assessment visit very helpful and I really liked the way the homeowners were included in the process. In terms of this being a learning experience, it won top marks from me. It was of course a lot to take in, so the follow up report was needed to ground their learning and answer any questions that arose in the interim.
I have heard from other people who have undergone a similar process with a HERO plan that they haven’t been included in this way. It may be that my presence changed the process. Or it might be that it is up to the homeowner how they want to be involved. From the point of view of the assessor it does take more time, but it has huge benefit for the homeowners increasing the chances that they will act on the findings.
Concerns: on the whole, I really liked the information given by the assessor. Like the homeowners I was also surprised when advice was at odds with the owners environmental concerns or the needs of an old breathable house.
In an old breathable house such as this one, sustainable materials are imperative. In large part, sustainable options for internal wall insulation were suggested, but then a sudden outlier of non-breathable, environmentally toxic foam was put forward as an option for underneath the suspended floor.
I have spoken with an NEF assessor about this and we had a good conversation. The rationale for using spray foam was the ease of installing it with the robot system under a deep sub floor void reducing internal disruption. To my mind this is still a risk. Homeowner’s considering using spray foam anywhere in their home should check with the insurance company to make sure it won’t present a problem.
I’d suggest that homeowners signing up for a HERO plan research ahead of time the materials they want to use and just tell the assessor. And of course ask questions if anything else is suggested.
Summary
- The report is very thorough and easy to understand.
- The ambition for reduction in carbon emissions, household bills and energy rating is impressive and very appealing to the homeowner.
- There is no follow on sales process so there is no question that the assessor has an agenda
- To my mind the costs are probably a bit high for what is suggested, but it was made clear that these were based on nationwide norms and not actual costings
- I would like to see sustainability as a higher priority, but I think homeowners can ask for this as part of the initial brief
Is it worth doing?
Absolutely. As long as the assessor is as inclusive as this one was. Or that homeowners can be included when they ask to be.
As a homeowner, take the initiative and ask for the support you need, This can be a brilliant learning experience, leaving you much better informed. From there you can move forward in a positive way for yourself, your house and the environment.