NOVA NEWS EDITORIAL 01 JANUARY 2022

RETROFIT ENERGY ASSESSMENTS

Firstly I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year.

This month I return to a subject covered 12 months ago but which will now begin to feature prominently in the media and the Government agenda. COP 26 highlighted the importance of the reduction of emissions, carbon and energy throughout the world. Our own homes have a bearing on this and in the coming months expressions such as Whole House Retrofit will undoubtedly start to creep into Government ministers remarks.
What is this?
Retrofitting is a process of improving the insulation of our homes being more relevant to older property. Many will be aware that the installation of fossil fuel boilers in homes will be banned from 2025. However, the issue of improving the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock, and more particularly older homes, therefore reducing carbon emissions by lowering the levels of heat loss, remains a significant problem.

In order to ascertain what work is required to achieve this it is necessary to undertake a retrofit assessment of the home. This is undertaken by a qualified Retrofit Assessor

The assessment includes three reports, the traditional Energy Performance Certificate, a Condition Report which will highlight any deterioration in the fabric of the property internally and externally and an Occupancy assessment which details specific information about the occupiers, and their use of the dwelling thereby enabling the assessor to generate a report outlining how the occupant uses energy in the home. So there is a certain amount of data required that relates specifically to the occupier themselves.

In addition the assessor will make an inspection of the house on a room by room basis noting sizes of radiators, windows and wall widths as well as the make and model of the boiler and levels of loft insulation.

A floor plan of the property is prepared showing position and size of windows, radiator, boiler location. All information collected, together with the reports will be passed on to a Retrofit coordinator who will prepare a plan of improvements for your home. Once it has been decided which improvements you wish to implement the coordinator will obtain quotes from suitable contractors and plan a schedule of work.