Summary of "Retrofit-at-Scale" publication

Summary of "Retrofit-at-Scale" publication

Introduction

  • The report addresses the urgent need to retrofit UK homes to meet climate targets, highlighting the shortcomings of current policies that prioritize wind farms over home retrofitting.
  • Fuel poverty and rising energy bills underscore the need for a mass home retrofit strategy, emphasising the vulnerability of household energy costs.
  • The document is a call to action for policymakers and industry to implement a mass retrofit of 28 million UK homes, focusing on an affordable and equitable path to net-zero carbon emissions.

Key Points of the Report

  1. Current Challenges and Objectives

    • The UK is falling short of the necessary retrofits needed to meet climate targets, with less than 1% of the housing stock being retrofitted.
    • There is a significant increase needed in the uptake of heat pumps and retrofitting to address fuel poverty.
    • The report proposes a new BASIC retrofit standard designed to be low-cost and applicable to a majority of homes, reducing heat demand by 50%.

  2. Policy and Industry Collaboration

    • There is a need for a comprehensive national retrofit strategy that bridges the gap between top-down policies and bottom-up industry practices.
    • The current target of a 12% energy efficiency improvement is inadequate; a halving of heating demand is proposed.
    • Policy Support: A robust policy framework is needed to support the mass rollout, including incentives and funding redirection from energy supply infrastructure to retrofit initiatives.

  3. Economic and Social Benefits

    • Implementing mass retrofits can significantly reduce national grid capacity requirements and energy supply costs.
    • Retrofits can lead to social benefits, such as reducing fuel poverty and improving public health by enhancing indoor living conditions.
    • The BASIC retrofit aims to be within the 1% GDP cost target for net-zero carbon delivery, making it financially viable on a national scale.

  4. BASIC Retrofit Standard

    • The BASIC retrofit is a performance-based approach, not prescriptive, allowing flexibility in implementation while focusing on achieving a 50% reduction in heating demand.
    • It emphasises the use of existing heating systems and low-cost measures to reduce costs and household disruption.
    • A mass rollout of the BASIC retrofit could enable productivity improvements and cost reductions, making retrofitting accessible and appealing to more homeowners.

  5. Consumer Engagement and Protection

    • The report stresses the importance of consumer trust and engagement, proposing a community-based approach to foster local involvement and acceptance.
    • Consumer Protection: Current retrofit practices lack adequate consumer protection; the report advocates for performance guarantees and third-party verification to ensure quality and effectiveness.

  6. Technical and Practical Considerations

    • Improved survey techniques, such as 3D Lidar scanning and thermal imaging, are recommended for more accurate assessments and efficient retrofits.
    • The report suggests using a single integrated delivery team to streamline processes and reduce overhead costs.
    • Fabric-first Approach: Focus on adequate insulation and airtightness to optimise heating systems and reduce overall energy consumption.

  7. Innovations and Future Directions

    • Emphasizes the need for new products and processes that enable quick and cost-effective retrofits.
    • Innovation case studies highlight successful approaches and technologies that can be scaled for broader application.
    • Encourages industry stakeholders to develop solutions that align with the BASIC retrofit standards, driving down costs and improving delivery efficiency.

Conclusion

  • The "Retrofit-at-Scale" report presents a comprehensive strategy for mass retrofitting UK homes, advocating for a shift in policy and industry practices to achieve significant energy savings and carbon reduction.
  • By focusing on the BASIC retrofit standard, the report outlines a practical and equitable pathway to net-zero carbon that addresses both economic and social challenges.
  • The success of this initiative relies on collaboration between policymakers, industry professionals, and communities, ensuring a cohesive approach to retrofitting at scale.

The full report can be found here Retrofit at Scale – Sustainable Development Foundation (sdfoundation.org.uk)

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