Guide 1 provides an introduction to the Government’s low carbon targets in the UK and the vital role that built environment businesses must play in delivering these ambitious targets. This new opportunity is being shaped by the Government’s emerging incentive schemes, such as Feed-in Tariffs (FiT), the Green Deal and the Renewable Heat Incentive. However, even without these incentives, the business benefits of low carbon domestic retrofit include protection against rising fuel prices (and fuel poverty), improved comfort in homes, mitigating CO₂ emissions and improved market value.

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Guide 2 covers the opportunities in providing energy surveys and assessments that will inform the process of selecting appropriate retrofit measures. It considers the potential tension between long term goals and short term priorities, which remain a barrier to major retrofit. The assessment process described in this guide must take both into account. The guide details the different techniques that can be employed including thermography and damp surveys, as well as energy assessment tools used to gather data about the building and its occupancy.

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Guide 3 is about how you might plan low carbon retrofit projects. The guide has been structured around the development of a retrofit plan for an individual dwelling or for a dwelling type within a larger housing stock and the business opportunities this presents. It details why, when and how a retrofit plan should be used, what it should include for different clients, who owns it and the associated business opportunities.

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Guide 4 outlines the early stages in the retrofit process, by exploring the different funding sources and models for domestic retrofit programmes. Sources of funding include the Government’s Green Deal and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes. Being sustainable is essential when sourcing goods and services to undertake repairs, maintenance and improvement works to existing housing to meet the Government’s targets for carbon reduction. The Guide looks at understanding sustainable procurement and how to tender successfully to make the most of these opportunities and help you win more business.

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Guide 5 highlights the opportunities for the individual or organisation involved in overseeing the retrofit process. It considers the project coordination role, including the planning process and managing risk. Getting these early stages right will help inform the management of the delivery stage and beyond. For the homeowner or landlord, it is important to understand how effective the work has been.

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Guide 6 looks at how you could improve the performance of building fabric of existing homes, such as walls, floors, roofs, windows and doors. The key message is the need to adopt an integrated approach to the treatment of all fabric elements to achieve improved thermal performance and optimum comfort conditions internally.

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Guide 7 will help you make improvements to the building services such as ventilation, heating and hot water systems and electric power. These are actually responsible for using energy in the home and are often given insufficient thought.  There are opportunities for engineers, technicians, designers and installers to integrate the technologies to deliver simpler building services systems. Solutions explored include the design and installation of efficient ventilation systems, improving heating and hot water services such as installing heat pumps, as well as cutting electricity use by lifestyle changes.

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Guide 8 explores the non-energy environmental impacts of retrofit work including materials, water and drainage, maintenance, waste and recycling. Find out how designers can reduce impact by retaining elements of the building and reusing or recycling from the outset, specifying green material to meet design requirements and to improve overall environmental performance, as well as examining waste management and pollution control throughout a retrofit project, from design through to completion.

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Guide 9 draws on the needs of residents who live in low carbon homes.  It also covers the energy advice you would need to know to help residents in less efficient housing reduce their carbon emissions.  The Guide considers occupant behaviour to ensure that energy and carbon dioxide emissions reductions are realised, looking at the need to design with users in mind and the importance of effective control systems so that residents can manage their energy use.

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Guide 10 will help you understand your market, customers and the importance of promotion, including giving you pointers as to the ‘who, when and how’ of selling low carbon retrofit.  It also includes a step-by-step guide on writing a marketing plan and case studies illustrating how this can work in practice. 

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Guide A outlines the Government’s existing and proposed promotional programmes for low carbon domestic refurbishment. It covers the Green Deal, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), FiTs and the RHI.

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Guide B introduces you to the skills, training and qualifications you need to take advantage of the rapid change for the low carbon retrofit sector. With new products, techniques and technologies coming on to the market – keeping your skills up to date is essential if you are to remain competitive. 

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