Individuals Organisations
Menu

Retrofit step 1: Insulation

The first step of your retrofit journey is to ensure your home has proper insulation.

A contractor carrying out external wall insulation retrofit

On this page

How to make your home warmer

To be able to make the home warmer and be able to hold a warmer temperature for longer, it needs to be properly insulated.  

A properly insulated home makes it:

  • More efficient to run
  • More comfortable
  • Healthier to live in
  • Less expensive to heat as you’ll be using less energy

Changeworks’ recommended fabric first approach to retrofit looks at a deep retrofit of the insulating layer of the home.

This helps to determine the best approach and improve any existing insulation with a view to comfort, and specific to the type of construction used to build your home, as opposed to a generic, one-size fits all approach.

Draughts, cold points and edges – where heat loss tends to be greatest – get specific attention. This can include wall, roof and floor insulation, as well as windows and doors.

It’s important to also look at over-heating risk in summer months to make sure that a warm home in winter doesn’t become an unbearably hot one in warmer weather. 

Retrofit step 2: Ventilation

If your home is properly insulated, ensuring effective ventilation is the next important step for your retrofit. 

Ventilation

Retrofit step 3: Electrification

Decarbonise your heating by using a carbon-free source of heating like an air source heat pump.

Electrification

Retrofit step 4: Generation

By generating your own energy you can power your home, your heating and even your electric vehicle.

Generation

Insulation measures

From the roof over your head to the floor beneath your feet, there are a range of insulation options that can work for different types of homes.

Wall insulation

Internal, external and cavity wall insulation are all potential options, but which method you choose depends on your home’s wall type.

Wall insulation

Roof and loft insulation

Uninsulated homes lose a quarter of their heat through the roof. With loft insulation, you can keep your home warm and lower your energy bills.

Roof and loft insulation

Floor insulation

If your home has a ground floor, or if you live above an unheated space, underfloor insulation will help reduce heat loss.

Floor insulation

Windows and doors

Around 10% of the heat in our homes is lost through poorly insulated windows.

Windows and doors

Draught proofing

Draught proofing is a cheap and easy way to keep the heat inside your home.

Draught proofing

Register your interest in our retrofit service

Register your interest in EcoCosi from Changeworks to find out more about how to retrofit your home and to be sent information about the service.

Consent

Useful pages

Saving energy in the home

Saving energy in the home is good for our pocket and the planet. There are lots of little changes we can make – many costing us nothing at all – that can add up to big savings.

Energy bills and your supplier

From getting to know all the charges that appear on your energy bill to the best ways to find out about your rights, our advice and support can help you take control.

Financial support

Financial support is out there, whether you’re struggling with your energy bills or looking into funding for renewable heating systems. Our guides cover what financial support is available, and how to apply.   

Managing your heating

The more familiar you are with your heating systems, the better. Use our guides to take control of the heat in your home and use it more efficiently.

Heat your home efficiently

If you’re making decisions about the future of heating your home, then we can help. Discover advice on renewable options and available funding.

Insulation

From the roof over your head to the floor beneath your feet, there are a range of insulation options that can work for different types of homes.