Reflections on retrofits: Overcoming barriers to energy efficiency among the fuel poor in the United Kingdom

Abstract

To meet targets on fuel poverty, energy efficiency and carbon emissions existing homes need to be more energy efficient. We report the results of a participatory action research project to explore the challenges associated with energy efficiency retrofit programmes and ways to better implement future schemes.Six focus groups were held with 48 participants from a range of energy efficiency roles. Data were analysed thematically using the research question "What are the challenges presented by implementing energy efficiency retrofit programmes".We identified four themes in the data: Funding mechanisms; Predicting performance; Installation; and People. Challenges include funding mechanisms for retrofit programmes resulting in insufficient time to plan, publicise, implement and evaluate a scheme and insufficient flexibility to specify the most appropriate intervention for individual homes. Site workers sometimes need to adapt retrofit designs because of insufficient detail from the designer and can equate quality of installation with quality of finish. Landlords and occupier behaviour can impact on the programme's success and there is a need for greater information on benefits for landlords and for energy behaviour change interventions run alongside retrofit programmes for occupiers. There is a need for outcome evaluations of retrofit schemes with the results shared with stakeholders.

Business models for residential retrofit in the UK: a critical assessment of five key archetypes

“…Cost effective energy efficiency measures face several barriers to their implementation (Sorrell et al 2004). These barriers can be grouped into four categories: financial, social and behavioural, supplier competence and performance risk (Fylan et al 2016). The five components of the BM outlined in BLiterature on business models^section correspond to each of these interrelated barriers.…”

“…Progress in improving the energy performance of residential buildings has stalled since 2012 (CCC 2016). The UK still has one of the oldest and least energy efficient Energy Efficiency (2018) 11:1497-1517 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-018- housing stocks in Europe, and two thirds of the existing buildings are likely to exist in 2050 (Fylan et al 2016). Older, solid walled properties constitute around 27% of the UK stock and have a large energy-saving potential (Element Energy 2013), yet only around 4% have had solid wall insulation (SWI) installed (CCC 2016).…”

Retrofitting suspended timber ground-floors; comparing aggregated and disaggregated evaluation methods

“…For example, the lack of consumer awareness of retrofits (Blumstein, Krieg, Schipper, & York, 1980). However, the extent of unfamiliarity is difficult to generalize, because knowledge of retrofits varies greatly amongst stakeholders (Fylan et al, 2016). Disturbance to householders is also a barrier, particularly as traditional methods tend to require floors to be lifted, making parts of homes inaccessible during the retrofit (Gupta et al, 2015).…”

Quantitative evaluation of deep retrofitted social housing using metered gas data

“…Gupta et al [26] propose community led retrofit; possibly combined with an area-based approach supported by local government [15]. Fylan et al [22] report that local councils or housing associations could maximise retrofit return by scaling up to "area-by-area" while simultaneously treating each dwelling as a whole-house.…”