RETROFIT & SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
Smart retrofit strategies: Data-focused solutions for Net Zero
W
Tom Garrigan, executive director, BSRIA, explains why the most effective strategy to decarbonisation relies on accurate evaluation and making decisions based on solid evidence rather than assumptions
ith 85% of the buildings expected to be occupied in 2050 already constructed, reducing carbon emissions across the UK’s public and
commercial property stands out as one of the most urgent and complex challenges for facilities managers and engineers today. The nation’s building stock ranks among the oldest in Europe, and the regulatory environment is changing rapidly. As a result, there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to decarbonisation. By starting with a thorough analysis of each building’s performance, patterns of use, and occupant experiences, facilities managers can ensure that retrofit interventions provide optimal results. This evidence-driven methodology allows for decarbonisation that is both cost-efficient and robust, while also addressing compliance obligations and protecting long-term building performance.
Investigation before intervention
Successful decarbonisation begins with investigation, not intervention. This means fully evaluating existing conditions before committing resources or planning works. A thorough performance assessment may draw on a range of non-invasive techniques, from thermal imaging and airtightness testing to acoustic analysis and post-occupancy evaluation. When these findings are considered together, they provide a holistic view of building performance, revealing inefficiencies, inconsistencies or vulnerabilities that are not immediately visible. The value of this process is twofold. It allows
targeted investment, avoiding unnecessary works or disruptive upgrades, and it ensures that improvements are tailored to the actual usage patterns of a building, rather than being based on broad generalisations. This approach also gives occupants a voice in shaping the outcome. Direct input from users - whether through surveys, interviews or informal conversations - can uncover comfort
issues, behavioural patterns and operational constraints that purely technical assessments may overlook. Engaging those who use the building every day encourages a shared sense of responsibility in achieving, and maintaining, operational sustainability goals. We saw the benefits of this approach first-hand during the recent retrofit of BSRIA House, our own headquarters. Rather than implementing a list of generic upgrades, we began with rapid, cost effective fabric assessments that established a clear performance baseline. This enabled us to identify and prioritise the interventions that would deliver the greatest value. The results were significant: building airtightness improved by 35 per cent, Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduced by 28 per cent, and occupant satisfaction rose by 14 per cent, all while the building remained fully operational.
Achieving compliance
Today’s facilities managers are being asked to balance the demands of day-to-day operations, occupant comfort and long- term asset performance with an increasingly stringent set of legislative requirements. The Building Safety Act, the Future Homes and Buildings Standards, changes to Energy Performance Certificates and associated reporting obligations are reshaping the compliance landscape.
While it is easy to see these developments as additional burdens, they present an opportunity do better. Adopting a measurement-led approach to decarbonisation naturally supports compliance by providing detailed performance outcomes and documentation that reduce risk and liability in the long term. Central to this is a fabric first mindset. However advanced an energy system may be, it will only deliver its full potential if the building envelope itself is efficient. Improving insulation, tackling thermal bridges and eliminating air leakage will reduce demand at source, ensuring that any energy generated is used as effectively as possible. These improvements not only ensure a building is more energy efficient, but they also pave the way for the successful
integration of low carbon technologies, whether now or in the future.
Long-term performance
Independent, third party verification forms the bedrock of a credible decarbonisation strategy. Objective testing ensures that the initial performance of a building is thoroughly understood and provides a benchmark against which improvements can be measured. Construction professionals who rely on independent measurement, rather than self certification, report markedly higher confidence in their results. In fact, our research shows that almost half of the architects and engineers surveyed expressed greater trust in their outcomes when physical measurements had been taken by an impartial party. This underlines the fact that robust data is important for accountability and transparency in both the initial phase of a retrofit project and for continuous improvement. This data only becomes more valuable over time: retrofit should not be viewed as a one off event. Ongoing performance management is essential if gains are to be protected. Advances in cloud-based in use monitoring now allow facilities teams to track performance in real time, identifying inefficiencies before they become costly issues, helping to ensure that buildings will continue to operate as intended. This capability also provides continual verification of retrofit outcomes, proving that savings and improvements are maintained in practice, not just on paper.
A driver for positive change
The notion that achieving Net Zero means sacrificing comfort, quality, or operational efficiency is a misconception. When retrofits rely on diagnostics rather than assumptions, they have the potential to simultaneously improve various facets of a building, including efficiency, resilience, occupant wellbeing, and long-term value. For facilities managers, especially those in the public sector, this transforms compliance from a mere procedural task into an opportunity to enhance environments for both users and the planet. Decarbonisation is challenging, but when guided by precise measurement, active occupant involvement, and a dedication to ongoing improvement, it becomes a powerful catalyst for positive change. However, the time to take action is now.
20 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2025 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
