Buildings and Retrofit: Creating Better, Warmer Homes

2 days ago
2 min read

This article from Innovate Uk shares their extensive work into retrofitting homes. It's a rising tide for our economy, our workforce and our communities. Without a doubt reusing and repurposing what we already have is better for the environment that anything we can create from scratch and housing is no different from any other item in this regard. We believe this information is crucial for reimagining our homes we offer it to inspire and educate anyone involved in this area.

Buildings and Retrofit: Creating Better, Warmer Homes

Recognising the true value of retrofit

Retrofitting homes can improve people’s daily lives. It supports good health and well-being for residents, reduces bills, and drives skills development, which, in turn, strengthens local businesses, supply chains, and economies. However, the challenges are not just technological. Retrofit done well relies on a confident workforce, market demand, clear standards and measures, accessible finance, and engaging communities to understand how people want to live.

Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme has been helping councils recognize the true value of retrofit to their communities and showing how it can be achievable when it is treated as a place-based opportunity.

Discover how the Net Zero Living Programme is driving change in Buildings and Retrofit. Learn how Innovate UK are supporting local authorities to build the resources, skills, and capacity needed to accelerate demand for retrofitting homes.

They have collected together the very best insights from innovative approaches tested during the programme so more local authorities can benefit from their learnings and best practice

Insights from the programme include:

Setting the standard, examining how retrofitting homes is a uniquely placed-based endeavour and how local authorities are at the frontline of delivering progress that will ultimately tackle fuel poverty, reduce housing-related public health crises, and drive growth by driving greater demand and supply in local retrofit markets.

Better Warmer Homes reveal how local authorities can demonstrate leadership in retrofit by navigating new standards, investing in local supply chains, and piloting one-stop-shop services that make retrofit simpler and more affordable for residents.

Their Buildings and Retrofit webinar discussed how local authorities can use their role as convenors, planners, and asset owners to bring partners together and stimulate local markets. Council representatives shared their experiences of delivering innovative projects in their areas, and explained why retrofit is not a single intervention but the alignment of citizen engagement, clear regulations, finance, and skilled delivery.