Home energy efficiency upgrade advice and support

Learn how retrofitting can make your home more energy efficient, cut down on carbon emissions, and improve your day to day comfort

Gloucestershire’s district and borough councils have joined forces with home energy experts Furbnow to make saving energy at home simpler than ever.

This exciting new initiative is designed to help residents lower energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, and navigate the process of upgrading their homes with ease. From energy-efficient windows and doors to solar panels and heat pumps, the scheme offers expert guidance and access to trusted installers, ensuring a seamless experience.

What does Retrofit mean?

Retrofitting is all about upgrading your home to make it more energy efficient, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance comfort. It’s a smart way to save money on bills and create a healthier living environment, all while contributing to the UK’s Net Zero emissions goal.

Retrofit works can be undertaken on almost all property types and can range from low cost quick fixes to major upgrades, such as:

Installing draft excluders or switching to LED light bulbs
Adding high levels of insulation to your loft, walls, and floors
Upgrading windows and doors
Installing renewable energy solutions like solar panels or batteries
Switching to low-carbon heating like air or ground-source heat pumps

Why Retrofit?

Beyond saving energy and reducing emissions, retrofitting offers:

Improved health/living standards
Increased property value
Future proofing against weather and climate changes
Improved design to property using whole house methodology
Access to low-rate lending and grants for building works and heating systems

When’s the best time to Retrofit?

Some projects take carbon reduction into consideration from the off. Prior to starting any home improvement project it’s worth taking time to consider including retrofit works, which could not only reduce emissions, but also help you save money by giving you access to interest free loans, reduced VAT on works and products, as well as grants.

Retrofit works may be something to consider when buying a property, building an extension, or carrying out renovation work prior to selling your property.

It may also be something to consider when replacing existing heating sources such as boilers or when conducting unexpected repairs, such as those caused by flooding and storms.

Take the Whole House Approach

This approach considers a broad range of aspects, which include following the PAS 2035 standard to prevent issues like condensation or mold. This holistic view helps to identify your options and how they can work together to consider:

Your home and its history
Indoor air quality and ventilation
Moisture inside your home
Energy use and bills reduction
CO2 emissions

Before embarking on any retrofit works, we recommend undertaking a whole house assessment. This plan will also give you detailed information about:

The best upgrades for your home
The ideal order to carry them out
Estimated costs and benefits
Access to trusted installers

If your home is older or historically significant, a survey ensures that the right techniques and materials are used.

Start with a Retrofit survey from Furbnow

We are one of six councils who have partnered with Furbnow to create a one stop shop for your home energy efficiency upgrades, offering free advice and DIY hints and tips.

You can also book a whole house assessment, access the fairer warmth application (which gives you detailed information based on your property), or find out about local and national grants and services available to you.

Visit Furbnow Gloucestershire

or call: 0330 165 6147

Get support from our Retrofit Engagement Officer

Sam Clarke, our dedicated Retrofit Engagement Officer, is here to guide residents of the Forest of Dean district with advice and support for improving energy efficiency.

Email: Sam.Clarke@fdean.gov.uk

Historic Buildings and Conservation advice

The Forest of Dean conservation team are currently creating detailed help and support pages for homeowners which will be added here shortly. Historic England has also produced useful and extensive guides on energy efficiency improvements in traditional buildings. A general introduction to this can be found on their Retrofit and Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings page.

Warm and Well

Warm and Well offers energy efficiency advice to householders and also administers grant funding on behalf of the local authorities and other funders. We enjoy a close partnership with the NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.

For further info see our Warm and Well pages.