Retrofitting a Didcot home to be warm and cosy
Meet Heather and Paul in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Their semi-detached home received a significant upgrade, including replacing a fossil fuel boiler with an Air Source Heat Pump, to improve comfort and reduce carbon emissions.
About the home
Heather and Paul’s home is a charming 1930s/40s semi-detached property in East Hagbourne, Didcot. The house features a modern two-storey extension, built in 2012, which houses the kitchen and master bedroom. During the initial assessment, we found cavity walls and suspended timber flooring, both of which can lead to significant heat loss. The home was heated with a combi-gas boiler, relying on fossil fuels.
Motivations for the retrofit
Increasing comfort
One major concern was the black mould in the master bedroom, forming between the walls and the sloped ceiling, indicating condensation due to poor insulation. Addressing this issue would not only improve the health and comfort of the home but also reduce energy loss and carbon emissions. Heather and Paul were keen to explore the potential of a heat pump, hoping to achieve a constant, comfortable temperature throughout the home, unlike the variable warmth provided by their combi-gas boiler.
“The Whole House Plan provided a holistic view of where we could make energy improvements. It’s well structured with a summary and then the detail for the different options – including information about the carbon footprint. Excellent value for money, and I have already recommended Cosy Homes Oxfordshire to several others!”
Heather comina, cosy homes client
Reducing carbon emissions
Reducing carbon emissions was a key driver for Heather and Paul. They are committed to minimizing their environmental impact. Already equipped with 10 solar panels and a battery charging point, they saw retrofitting their home as the next step in cutting their carbon footprint even further.
What measures were installed?
The main measure was replacing their fossil fuel boiler with an Air Source Heat Pump, a low-carbon heating method that maintains a steady, comfortable temperature. This involved removing the existing boiler and installing the heat pump outside the home. While underfloor heating is common with heat pumps, Heather and Paul chose to use their existing radiator system and hot water tank to distribute heat.
To ensure the heat pump worked effectively, we also increased the insulation in the roof and cavity walls. This not only improved the home’s overall energy efficiency but also addressed the mould issue in the bedroom by reducing condensation.
This comprehensive retrofit has transformed Heather and Paul’s home into a warm, cosy, and environmentally friendly haven, showcasing the benefits of eco-friendly home improvements.
Get your free draft retrofit plan
Curious about what home retrofit could do for your home’s energy bills and carbon emissions? Get started by using our Plan Builder to create a draft home retrofit plan, and then submit your plan to our team to start the Cosy Homes process.