Two-thirds (66%) of Scots say worries about poor-quality work and ‘cowboy installers’ are holding them back from making home improvements to lower energy bills.
A poll commissioned by social enterprise Changeworks has found that uncertainty of where to find trusted advice and support is another barrier stopping homeowners from making their homes more energy efficient.
With the ongoing energy crisis and cost of energy set to increase over the coming months, many homeowners are considering moving to sustainable measures like solar panels or making their home more energy efficient through measures such as insulation. Lower energy bills are a priority for over half (55%), with 57% wanting a healthy, well-ventilated home.
While awareness of the benefits of retrofit – from lower energy bills to healthier, more comfortable homes – is growing, many homeowners feel unsure about where to start and who to trust. 20% of respondents said that they don’t know enough about what they could do. Cost of retrofit also remains a concern, but over one in three respondents said they would consider retrofitting their home if they had the right support.
EcoCosi from Changeworks, a home retrofit service, aims to tackle these challenges and support homeowners by providing trusted, expert support. The service provides home surveys via video calls to homeowners in Scotland. Clients receive a report with bespoke recommendations on the best upgrades for their home, as well as guidance on how to turn these recommendations into reality.
One client, Mike, turned to the service after realising his home wasn’t as warm as he wanted when he began working from home more often. After extensive research, he chose EcoCosi for independent, expert support. He booked in an in-person survey to start his journey off.
“The analysis was really detailed and gave me real confidence that I was going to be spending money in the right places,” Mike said. EcoCosi oversaw the installation process using its network of vetted contractors. Following the retrofit, Mike is now saving £1,433 a year on energy bills and reducing his carbon emissions by 3,640kg of CO₂e annually.
Marc Brammer, Senior Retrofit Coordinator at EcoCosi from Changeworks, said:
“A lack of trust is a major barrier for homeowners who want to improve their homes. People are worried about getting the wrong advice or ending up with poor-quality work. With energy bills being higher than ever, we urge homeowners to get in touch now to make sure their home is more energy efficient ahead of winter.”