Greener future

Improving existing homes

A desk-based assessment confirmed that many of our older homes perform poorly in terms of their comfort and energy-efficiency. So we’re building on our existing work to ‘retrofit’ improved heating systems and other measures into these properties.

Following baseline assessments of several different types of home to identify those most suited for retrofitting, whole home surveys and baseline energy performance modelling will inform ‘pathways’ for each type. 

Each pathway considers how different measures can improve a home’s energy efficiency, affordability and the wellbeing of customers who live there.  

Working with our expert partners, we’ll look at improving their ‘fabric’ (from insulation to less draughty windows and doors) and installing the best energy-efficient heating (such as Air Source Heat Pump systems). Solutions may also include solar panels and battery storage: to generate and store renewable energy.

We’ll agree a package of measures for each property type: balancing affordability, capital cost and carbon reduction opportunities over the next 30 years.

Personalised plans

Individual surveys will then let us create personalised phased plans for each home: something customers raised as important in our research. 

These 'Home Passports' will set out the work that’s needed to give each household a warm, healthy, affordable and more energy-efficient place to live. They will also enable us to compare the real-world performance of each home with its more 'theoretical' Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.

Our expert Resident Liaison Officers and retrofit teams will then work closely with customers to explain every step of the journey, what the outcomes will be, how this will benefit them - and, importantly, to explain how newly installed smart-home technology can be used effectively to help reduce their energy bills. We estimate that some bills could fall by as much as half.   

Home monitoring sensors and measuring 'performance-in-use' in real homes will also help us assess the energy efficiency and effectiveness of the new technologies. We'll be able to assess wider health and wellbeing issues for customers too (such as ventilation and air quality measures like humidity and carbon dioxide levels).

Watch the animation below to find out more about our approach to meeting net zero for existing homes.

Read a transcript of the animation 'Creating better homes for a healthier, greener future' .