A recent report reviewed the need, the barriers to retrofit and what practical solutions exist. It said that to make efficient use of resources we should be targeting 'deep retrofit', a whole-house approach to design and implementation taking a property from its current state to net-zero energy demand in one step.
This sounds difficult and expensive, but recent pilot projects are showing that it is possible. One of the best approaches adds new insulated wall panels, windows and doors and a new insulated roof with integrated PV panels. What one architect described as 'throwing a duvet over the whole house'. Coupled with an air-source or ground-source heat-pump we can cut carbon emissions from space and hot water heating to zero.
This is a major retrofit, although with modern manufacturing techniques it can be done quickly and with minimum disruption.
But it raises the question; what else can we do at the same time? Why not carry out the adaptations and repairs required to make a home suitable for independent living by older people? Adaptations can improve quality of life and enable people to live safely at home for longer, and can reduce social care costs by up to £4,500 per person per year and cut GP visits by almost 50%.