1960s bungalow
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 1960s bungalow in Charlbury is typical of many single-storey homes built in the period. With cavity walls, solid floors, and a low-pitched roof, it faced issues with heat loss and limited insulation.
The homeowner had already made some improvements, but wanted to see what more could be done. With a Whole House Plan he gained a complete picture of the options available – and how each step would cut carbon, improve comfort, and reduce bills.
Here’s what the plan revealed:
| Carbon emissions could be cut to nearly zero |
| The EPC rating could rise from 67 D to 100 A |
| Annual fuel bills could drop from over £800 to almost nothing! |
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.
“I’ve already done a lot to the house to make it warmer and more energy efficient, but I wanted to get a Whole House Plan to see what more I can do to reduce carbon emissions. It’s given me a full picture of all the options and what impact they would have.”
Matthew, Charlbury
Where this home stands now
House profile
| EPC rating | Current 67 D > Potential 100 A |
| Type | Detached bungalow |
| Built | 1960s |
| Location | Charlbury |
| Occupancy | Owner-occupied |
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Floor area | 55m² |
| Walls | Cavity, filled |
| Floors | Solid |
| Roof | Low pitched with loft |
| Windows | Double glazed, uPVC |
| Annual energy use | 11,360 kWh (211 kWh/m²) |
| Carbon emissions | 2.4 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 to cavity walls | ●●●●● | ●●● |
| Insulate solid floor | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| New double or triple glazed uPVC windows | ●●●●●● | ●●●● |
| Air source heat pump | ●●●●●● | ●●●● |
| Measure | Comfort & health | Disruption |
|---|---|---|
| Solar PV | ● | ●● |
Expert tip
“Although the cavity walls of this bungalow have been filled with insulation applying external wall insulation will reduce heat losses even further by improving airtightness and reducing draughts.”
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 | – | 67 D | £838 | 2.36 t |
| Low energy lighting | £50–£100 | 68 D | £822 | 2.35 t |
| Increase loft insulation | £1.9k–£2.45k | 69 C | £784 | 2.21 t |
| Ventilation improvements | £1k–£1.3k | 69 C | £784 | 2.21 t |
| External wall insulation | £20k–£25k | 72 C | £704 | 1.92 t |
| Solid floor insulation | £12k–£15k | 75 C | £634 | 1.66 t |
| Triple glazed windows | £8k–£12.5k | 75 C | £619 | 1.61 t |
| New insulated front door | £2.1k–£2.7k | 75 C | £610 | 1.58 t |
| Air source heat pump | £7.5k–£12.5k | 84 B | £514 | 0.29 t |
| Solar PV (3.4 kWp) | £5.25k–£7k | 100 A | £0 | 0.00 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 | 92 A | £228 | 1.79 t |
| Just heat pump | 74 C | £813 | 0.46 t |
| Solar + heat pump | 97 A | £225 | 0.03 t |
Expert tip
“1960s houses can contain asbestos within their structure due to the period they were constructed. Asbestos testing and specialist removal may need to be factored into the cost and sequencing of any retrofit improvements.”
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