Homeowner Chris used EcoCosi’s Whole Home Plan to kickstart the retrofit of his historic property.
Chris’s Edinburgh home was originally built in 1890. It was then converted into student housing during the 1960s but kept its designation as a Category B listed building. When Chris decided he wanted to reduce his home’s emissions, he called on EcoCosi to help him come up with a plan of action.
Home Survey and Whole Home Plan
To begin with, EcoCosi carried out a home survey. This deep dive into Chris’s house is essential for designing a retrofit which is tailored to such a unique property.
Senior Retrofit Coordinator Marc Bammer explains:
“We’re looking at how the house uses energy, how the homeowners live in the house, and any problems they’ve identified.”
Once EcoCosi had collected detailed information about the home, they used computer software to investigate its energy performance. They then modelled how different upgrades would affect energy efficiency, which helped Chris decide what changes he wanted to make.
Chris says:
“It’s a really useful process to get the plan done, especially if your house is old or complicated…It helped us make a good plan for what we were going to do next.”
The retrofit project
Based on the options from the Whole Home Plan, Chris has decided to start his retrofit project by adding insulation to the loft and roof space. He will also be looking to upgrade his windows, as well as adding solar panels and battery storage. Once all this is done, he’ll look into installing a heat pump.
The project also has to take into account the property’s status as a Category B listed building and its location in a conservation area. To comply with planning regulations, Chris will keep the original windows and install secondary glazing units behind them. Rather than putting solar panels on the roof at the front of the property, Chris will add them to the flat roof at the rear where they’ll be less visible.
Of his retrofit journey so far, Chris says:
“It’s been really great working with the team. They’re very responsive, very knowledgeable.”
Once the installation work has been completed, we’ll check back in with Chris to see how things went.