The Nicholsons and their two boys live in a 1960s end of terrace house in a small development in Oxford. Their home was dark and super cold and they found themselves having to huddle in the tiny kitchen most of the time as that was the warmest room in the house. As their house was very cold and their family was growing, they underwent a ‘deep’ home retrofit.

Through a number of measures, they are now exporting energy back into the grid on warm sunny days. But mostly they love the fact that they now have lower bills and a really comfortable home.

“Our home is now so nice and cosy. I almost think you get so used to it, it’s like a regular home till other people come and visit. And then they go wow, it’s so warm. Do you really not have any heating on?’

Joanne Bowlt, homeowner