Road To Net Zero


Many energy improvements are interdependent and rely on a baseline standard to be truly effective


be carried out ensuring all properties are in good structural condition. Many energy improvements are interdependent and rely on a baseline standard to be truly effective. Tere is no point insulating a property if it suffers from damp or has a leaky roof. Once housing stock is in a decent condition, the next step is to understand


what works need to be completed in order to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C or above. A Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) measures the energy efficiency and environmental performance of a building and is then used to create the EPC. Te SAP considers construction materials, heating systems and how efficient they are, together with levels of thermal insulation amongst other indicators to provide an overall SAP calculation. By calculating metrics like U-values to understand heat loss through walls,


roofs, floors, and windows, Housing Association’s and Local Authorities can identify where insulation upgrades are best placed to reduce heat loss. In taking a holistic approach, SAP also assesses air leakage, revealing opportunities to improve air tightness through measures like draſt-proofing. As for the implementation of retrofit upgrades, there is a framework in place


to help guide stakeholders. PAS 2035 is the British Standard for retrofitting dwellings and follows a fabric first approach to ensure the right measures are installed and deliver the intended improvement. Most government funded projects, including all those in England funded by the SHDF, are required to comply with the standard. Insulation and heat retention should be the number one priority for Housing


Association/Local Authorities. Reducing overall heat loss from the building’s fabric reduces the energy required for heating which can net some of the biggest improvements long term. Tis was evident in the ‘Retrofit Revisit’ report from CIBSE where 10 homes with fabric energy improvements were visited 10 years aſter those updates were installed. Te result demonstrated that ‘Fabric efficiency improvements have been shown to be very effective in the long run, with heat demand remaining very low compared to the national average.’


Tese results, however, are reliant on the proper application of the insulation


for that property type. All elements of the building fabric should be taken into consideration as part of the retrofit strategy to avoid thermal bridges and the creation of cold spots where condensation can occur. Tis is where the first- stage calculations to understand the thermal performance of the house become so critical.


ACCESSING THE RIGHT DATA Upgrading the social housing sector is not straightforward. Tere are limits to both the capacity and technical knowledge of retrofit teams. Some Local Authorities and Housing Association’s also do not have an up-to-date understanding of their social housing stock and rely on outdated EPC’s which do not reflect the current state of the properties. Older properties in particular can pose a challenge as they may require more


specialist solutions - especially when dealing with solid external walls. A lack of understanding has hindered some social housing projects


along with inflation and council budget constraints. A combination of these challenges resulted in one council returning £6.4m earmarked for social housing decarbonisation. Other councils have reported delays in works commencing due to capacity challenges with many retrofit specialists competing for tenders. Tis is where specialist product knowledge and technical advice from a


distributor who has full access to the market can help. Distributors such as SIG are “product agnostic”, which means they have technical understanding of a range of products and systems from different manufacturers, plus a fully resourced technical team which can help with thermal calculations to help in the selection of the best solution. Given their position in the market, they can also provide pricing guidelines


on different solutions, saving retrofit teams either having to approach multiple manufacturers for different options or rely on costly consultants to provide the same information. With expertise at every stage of the retrofit process, SIG can work with


Local Authorities and Housing Association’s to get the most out of the funding available by understanding their social housing stock needs and matching these up with the most cost-effective and suitable energy efficient solutions.


Caroline Bowler is head of residential at SIG Distribution 34 | HMMDecember/January 2025 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


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