1950s mid-terrace home
Could your home be made warmer, cheaper to run, and better for the planet? See what’s possible when you take a whole-home approach to planning energy upgrades.
What’s the potential of a home like this?
This 1950s mid-terrace home in Charlbury is typical of many post-war houses across Oxfordshire. With cavity walls, some timber frame sections, solid floors, and a combination of pitched and flat roofs, it faced problems with heat loss and high running costs.
The owners wanted to understand the best way forward. With a Whole House Plan they were able to see how their home worked, which upgrades would make the most difference, and how to plan improvements over time.
Here’s what the plan revealed:
| Carbon emissions could be cut by more than 95% |
| The EPC rating could rise from 69 C to 93 A |
| Annual fuel bills could fall from around £1,295 to £437 |
You don’t have to carry out every measure at once. The Whole House Plan gives you a roadmap so you can make improvements in your own time, at your own pace, and within your budget.
Where this home stands now
House profile
| EPC rating | Current 69 C > Potential 93 A |
| Type | Mid-terrace |
| Built | 1950s |
| Location | Charlbury |
| Occupancy | Owner-occupied |
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Floor area | 112m² |
| Walls | Cavity (unfilled) and timber frame |
| Floors | Solid |
| Roof | Pitched with loft, plus flat roof |
| Windows | Double glazed, uPVC |
| Annual energy use | 18,216 kWh (163 kWh/m²) |
| Carbon emissions | 3.8 tonnes CO2/year |
The EPC rating: now vs potential
An EPC rates your home’s energy efficiency – from A (best) to G (worst). A higher score can mean lower bills, but it doesn’t guarantee comfort. Whole-home upgrades help bridge that gap.
Long-term comfort, short-term disruption
| Key to tables: | Low impact: • | High impact: •••••• |
| Minor measures | Comfort & health | Disruption |
|---|---|---|
| Low energy lighting | ● | ● |
| Increase loft insulation to 300mm | ●●●● | ●● |
| Insulate and draught proof loft hatch | ●●●● | ● |
| Cavity wall insulation | ●●●● | ●● |
| New insulated front door | ●●●●● | ●● |
| Ventilation improvements | ●●●●● | ●● |
| Major measures | Comfort & health | Disruption |
|---|---|---|
| External wall insulation (with render) | ●●●●● | ●●● |
| New triple glazed uPVC windows | ●●●●●● | ●●●● |
| Air source heat pump | ●●●●●● | ●●●● |
| Measure | Comfort & health | Disruption |
|---|---|---|
| Solar PV | ● | ●● |
Expert tip
“Often houses might only have 100mm of loft insulation, but 300mm is recommended. If you store things in the loft, consider a loft boarding system, so the insulation isn’t compressed. Make sure the loft is ventilated so moisture doesn’t damage the roof timbers.”
Geordie Stewart, Scheme Manager
The difference each step could make
These figures show how each recommended measure could affect the home’s EPC rating, energy bills, and carbon emissions – if installed in the order shown. They’re based on a full Whole House Plan tailored to this property.
| Measure | Est. cost | EPC | Fuel bill | CO₂/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where you are now | – | 69 C | £1,295 | 3.77 t |
| Cavity + external wall insulation | £16.8k–£22k | 74 C | £1,082 | 2.99 t |
| Increase loft insulation | £1.4k–£1.8k | 74 C | £1,070 | 2.95 t |
| Triple glazed windows | £12.6k–£19.8k | 76 C | £989 | 2.63 t |
| New insulated doors | £4.2k–£5.4k | 77 C | £977 | 2.59 t |
| Ventilation improvements | £1.9k–£2.2k | 77 C | £977 | 2.59 t |
| Air source heat pump | £7.5k–£12.5k | 81 B | £942 | 0.53 t |
| Solar PV (3 kWp) | £4.5k–£6k | 93 A | £437 | 0.18 t |
Boost your EPC rating
Installing a single major system like a heat pump or solar panels can still make a big difference. These examples show how individual upgrades could shift the home’s EPC and reduce carbon emissions – even before doing everything else.
| Upgrade option | EPC rating | Fuel bill | CO₂ emissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just solar PV | 81 B | £807 | 3.42 t |
| Just heat pump | 76 C | £1,182 | 0.66 t |
| Solar + heat pump | 88 B | £674 | 0.31 t |
Expert tip
“External wall insulation is ideal for houses where the walls are rendered – if the new render is well matched, the appearance won’t change too much.”
Natasha Ginks, Retrofit Coordinator
Wondering what’s right for your home?
A Whole House Plan gives you expert, independent advice on the best steps to take – and in what order – so every upgrade really works.
Don’t put it off another year. Take the first step with a free consultation. Our team of experienced Retrofit Advisers will listen to your goals, help you understand what’s possible, and outline the best next steps – no pressure, no obligation.
Smarter home upgrades. Backed by trusted retrofit expertise.
A House Like Mine
This case study is part of A House Like Mine – a collection of real Oxfordshire homes used to model the potential of energy-saving upgrades.
Each one is based on a Whole House Plan: expert guidance on what could be done, what it might cost, and what difference it could make.
These homes haven’t had the work done – but they show what’s possible when you plan it properly.
Prefer a PDF version?
Download a shareable PDF of this case study – perfect for your community group, local class, or anyone curious about improving home energy efficiency.
We’re making this resource freely available to raise awareness of how retrofitting – upgrading your home to use less energy and stay comfortable year-round – can make a real difference.
Click here to download the PDF