The UK is grappling with environmental challenges, escalating energy costs, and a majority of homes built before the 1980s. The urgency of retrofitting, a solution focused on enhancing existing homes, has never been more critical.
Retrofitting upgrades homes without changing their core character, making them warmer, more energy-efficient, and more comfortable. It involves improving insulation, ventilation, windows, and introducing renewable energy systems, effectively making the old function like new.
However, retrofitting goes beyond just technology or materials. It demands strategic planning, design thinking, and a personalised approach. This is where experienced architects in Battersea and beyond become crucial in ensuring that retrofitting efforts are both sustainable and effective.
Why Retrofitting Now?
The UK has some of the oldest houses in Europe, with over 80% of the homes projected to exist in 2050 already built. Consequently, reaching net-zero targets relies heavily on improving the homes we currently have.
Soaring energy prices, increasing public concern over carbon footprints, and government mandates on emissions targets make retrofitting not just ideal, but essential.
Retrofitting is not about minor adjustments. When done correctly, it transforms houses from being energy guzzlers to energy savers—while enhancing their resilience to future climate and regulatory changes.
