A home retrofit involves making modifications to an existing building to enhance its energy efficiency and environmental performance, focusing on reducing energy consumption and improving comfort. This process can include adding insulation, upgrading heating and cooling systems, and installing renewable energy sources like solar panels.

In contrast, refurbishment typically refers to restoring or updating a property to improve its appearance and functionality, often involving repairs and cosmetic changes.

Renovation involves more extensive changes, such as structural modifications or significant redesigns, aimed at altering or improving a property’s overall layout and design.

While all three can enhance a home’s value and usability, retrofits specifically target energy efficiency and sustainability.

During a home energy assessment with Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, a qualified Retrofit Assessor or Coordinator visits your property to evaluate its energy efficiency. The assessment typically lasts 1-2 hours and involves two main steps. First, the assessor asks questions about your home’s usage and any energy issues you’ve noticed.

Next, they conduct a room-by-room examination, measuring spaces, identifying heating and hot water systems, and checking key areas like walls, basements, and lofts for insulation. This information helps identify energy efficiency improvements and potential cost savings, forming the basis of your personalized Whole House Plan.

While thermal imaging isn’t standard, it can be arranged at an additional cost. After the assessment, a Retrofit Coordinator will prepare your Whole House Plan and schedule a follow-up call to discuss it, and if you choose to proceed with any recommended measures, they will help coordinate quotes from contractors.

Funding is available for homeowners who are vulnerable to the cold or living in fuel poverty. If you think you may be susceptible, refer yourself to the Better Housing Better Health (BHBH) team – they can provide vulnerable residents in Oxfordshire with advice and grants to improve energy efficiency in the home and lower bills.

We will update our website with any available funding as it arises. The Low Carbon Hub has put together advice on energy and funding for residents in Oxfordshire.

In England and Wales, homeowners may be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

More funding options and advice is also available on Oxfordshire County Council’s Retrofitting your home page.

When taking up the Cosy Homes Oxfordshire service, you gain access to our pool of vetted installers and certified contractors who are members of the RetrofitWorks cooperative (our delivery partner).

If you are looking for contractors we can recommend TrustMark, where you can search for local tradespeople in your area.

As of April 2022, VAT is not charged on the installation of energy efficiency measures in Great Britain, and this relief is set to last until 31 March 2027.

Thermal imaging is a non-contact method for detecting surface temperature and moisture, often used to identify areas of heat loss in a home. While useful, its effectiveness depends on specific environmental conditions and doesn’t provide quantitative comparisons between houses. Therefore, it is not a standard part of the Cosy Homes Oxfordshire service.

Your Retrofit Coordinator will advise if thermal imaging could be beneficial for your Whole House Plan. If you’re interested in this service, we can arrange it at an extra cost. Simply inform your Retrofit Coordinator when booking your home assessment.

Please note: Thermal imaging is typically offered from October to March, as colder months reveal heat loss more effectively.

At Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, we focus on whole house retrofits to create a comprehensive plan for home improvements. Homes often have a mix of features from different owners over the years, which rarely work together efficiently.

By assessing the entire property, we ensure all improvements work harmoniously for maximum energy efficiency. This approach also ensures upgrades are done in the correct order to prevent future issues, like blocking a chimney to reduce heat loss but causing dampness due to lost ventilation.

Our primary service is the Whole House Plan, giving you a complete picture of possible retrofit improvements. Homeowners decide which measures to implement, and we can help plan phases to reduce upfront costs and disruption.

We do not offer services for individual measures, like boiler replacements, outside of this whole house approach. For such needs, we recommend contacting a local, trusted contractor. We also do not consult on existing projects but aim to include these services in the future.

Our focus is on a whole house retrofit approach, assessing the entire house to produce bespoke, comprehensive recommendations for maximum energy efficiency. This includes multiple measures, ensuring all aspects of the building work together and preventing future issues.

Often, homes have piecemeal improvements from various owners, causing inefficiencies. Our approach minimizes carbon emissions and maximizes energy savings.

If you want to make a significant investment in retrofitting your property, Cosy Homes Oxfordshire is the right choice. If you prefer a different approach but still want to improve energy efficiency, we can suggest alternative routes.

• TrustMark and Buy With Confidence: For simpler or standalone retrofit improvements, like upgrading your boiler or switching to LED lighting, it might be more cost-effective to source quotes and manage the project yourself. Start with TrustMark and Buy With Confidence to find trustworthy local contractors. This is also a great option if you live outside Oxfordshire.
• Better Housing Better Health (BHBH): If you or someone you know is vulnerable to cold or damp, refer to the BHBH team for advice, support, and potential funding. BHBH, run by the National Energy Foundation, is one of our project partners, so we’ll also check for funding opportunities if you register with us.

As it stands our supply chain is set up to service homeowners in Oxfordshire.

If you live outside of Oxfordshire, these are our recommendations:

• TrustMark and Buy With Confidence: If there’s no whole house retrofit scheme near you, we’d recommend starting with TrustMark and Buy With Confidence to find local contractors near you that you can trust.

The time taken for the full process of having a Whole House Plan done for your home is approximately 5 weeks, but can vary, depending on various factors.

See our prices.

After your Retrofit Coordinator delivers your Whole House Plan, you’ll discuss the recommended measures and decide which to proceed with. Your Retrofit Coordinator will then send you a Client Services Agreement, outlining how we will work together to deliver your planned works, including our requirements from you and what we will provide.

This agreement details the payment for the Retrofit Coordinator’s time for the next steps, including project coordination with contractors, as well as the cost of any Building Performance Requirement (BPR) and Technical Specialist Reports needed. These costs are bespoke to your house and needs, but they will be clearly outlined, and your Retrofit Coordinator will be available to explain anything you’re unsure about.

TAs part of our service, there is a project coordination fee that covers the expertise of our Retrofit Coordinator, detailed in your Client Service Agreement. While you might choose to manage the coordination yourself if you have the technical skills and time, involving our Retrofit Coordinator can streamline the process.

Our Retrofit Coordinator offers valuable technical advice and liaises with contractors, saving you time and effort while ensuring your home improvements proceed smoothly. This support simplifies the journey to enhancing your home’s energy efficiency and comfort.

Although we don’t project manage, our expertise helps guide you through the process effectively. To learn more about the role and benefits of Retrofit Coordinators, explore our informative blog post on the topic.

Contractors and suppliers who work on Cosy Homes Oxfordshire projects have to first become members of the RetrofitWorks cooperative. This means they have been vetted through their application process, are members of the national quality assurance schemes TrustMark (www.trustmark.org.uk) and MCS (https://mcscertified.com/), and are being supported by the RetrofitWorks team and network.

All contractors working with Cosy Homes Oxfordshire will use licensed skip hire to dispose of waste from home retrofit projects. This ensures that all waste from the retrofit will be properly separated and disposed of accordingly, so skips will not be sent to landfill in their entirety and those materials which can be recycled will be.