Getting started with retrofit
There are many ways to retrofit your home or business. It is important to consider the building as a whole, including comfort, heritage, aesthetics, maintenance, energy bills, and carbon footprint.
Popular retrofitting options
Some of the most popular retrofitting options include:
Cavity wall insulation
- Cost: £500 to £5,000
- Disruption level: Medium
Find out more about cavity wall insulation.
Solid wall insultation
- Cost: £10,000+
- Disruption level: Medium for external wall insulation and high for internal wall insulation
Find out more about solid wall insulation.
Roof and loft insultation
- Cost: £500 to £5,000
- Disruption level: Low
Find out more about roof and loft insultation.
Solar panels
- Cost: £500 to £10,000
- Disruption level: Medium
Find out more about solar panels.
Air source heat pumps
- Cost: £10,000+
- Disruption level: Medium
Find out more about air source hear pumps.
Double glazing
- Cost: £5,000 to £10,000
- Disruption level: Medium
Find out more about double glazing.
The cost and disruption levels provided are estimates, and will be dependent on the type of building and context.
Choosing accredited installers
We recommend using installers with the following accreditations:
Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
For the installation of low-carbon heating systems the installer should have a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation.
PAS 2035
Installers should be PAS 2035 Certified. This guidance, known as Publicly Available Specification 2035 (PAS 2035), provides government guidance on how to retrofit homes.
Any installer using public funding for energy efficiency projects must comply with the PAS 2035 standard.
Finding a contractor
We recommend using contractor search engines to find certified installers and professionals.
Buy with Confidence
Buy with Confidence is a directory organised by Trading Standards. All contractors have been through a vetting process.
Which? Trusted Trader Scheme
The Which? Trusted Trader Scheme is a directory of contractors checked and assessed by Which?.
Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB)
AECB is an association of contractors, trades people, architects, engineers, and manufacturers. You can search the AECB website to find an organisation or individual with the specialism you require.
Ecofurb
Ecofurb can help put you in contact with experienced and accredited suppliers.
TrustMark
TrustMark is a government endorsed quality scheme. Businesses in the scheme have been thoroughly vetted to meet required standards and have made a commitment to good customer service.
MSC
You can use MSC to find a certified contractor or check if your contractor is certified.
Support for homeowners and businesses
Several organisations provide support and advice to homeowners and businesses looking to retrofit their properties.
Wandsworth Planning team
Residents and businesses in Wandsworth can receive free policy advice from the Wandsworth Planning team by emailing planning@wandsworth.gov.uk.
Please note this is only policy advice, not legal or planning advice. The information provided is for general guidance only. For detailed advice, use the pre-application advice service.
CREW Energy
CREW Energy is a not-for-profit community group that provide energy advice and low-carbon solutions for homes, businesses, and community buildings.
London South Bank University Energy Advice Centre
LSBU Energy Advice Centre is a free public advice service to help you understand how to improve the energy performance of your home and reduce your energy bills.
Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust has multiple energy tools and calculators that are free to use. The tools can help you identify the retrofit options that will work best for your property.