low-carbon retrofit resources
updated: 25th August 2025
Below you'll find useful links, some (text-heavy-information-based) slides from our workshops and a selection of PDF guides/booklets - please note that we take no liability for the accuracy of the information presented and that over time, with the industry changing so fast, some details may become out-of-date.
If you do find any errors, or know of any other useful resources we've not included, we'd really appreciate it if you could let us know using our contact details.
If you choose to subscribe to our newsletter, using the form at the bottom of this web page, then you will occasionally be notified of any updates to these resources, plus details of new workshops and events, etc.
contents
next steps...
useful links
key retrofit resources & organisations
our changing world
materials & components
active systems
suppliers
other resources & training
YouTube channels
behaviour change & leadership
case studies
finance & grants
guides & other documents
workshop slides
next steps...
home assessments
Snugg
A free personalised home energy efficiency plan that will identify the current performance of a home and then recommend various solution to reduce bills, reduce carbon and increase the value of the property.
www.snugg.com
British Gas Zero - Home Heath Check
Someone will visit the home and perform a detailed energy efficiency assessment - there is the opportunity to ask questions and then get a personalised report to help reduce the homes energy bills and carbon footprint.
www.britishgas.co.uk/smart-home/greener-homes/home-health-check.html
Your Home Better (Greater Manchester)
Offering two distinct services to help start a home improvement journey; the Solar+ Survey or Whole House Plan depending on the home’s individual requirements.
www.yourhomebetter.co.uk/retrofit-services
further training
Green Skills Academy (Greater Manchester)
www.gceducationandskills.ac.uk/green-skills-academy/
The Green Register (including Retrofit Skills Level 2)
https://www.greenregister.org.uk/training-events/
Energy Trust
https://energy-trust.co.uk/
key retrofit resources & organisations
PAS 2035/2030:2019+A1:2022
Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency. Specification and guidance
knowledge.bsigroup.com
free 2023 update: www.trustmark.org.uk/business/data-warehouse
BS 7913:2013 Guide to the conservation of historic buildings
knowledge.bsigroup.com
LETI
a voluntary network of over 1,000 built environment professionals, working together to put the UK and the planet on the path to a zero carbon future
www.leti.uk
Passivhaus Retrofit
https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/competitions_and_campaigns/passivhaus-retrofit/
TrustMark
the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme that covers work a consumer chooses to have carried out in or around their home
www.trustmark.org.uk
Great Homes Upgrade
greathomesupgrade.org
retrofitGM
Accelerating the Renovation of Greater Manchester’s Buildings
www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/media/6018/retrofitgm.pdf
Green Economy
provides end-to-end support to businesses as the UK transitions to net zero
https://www.greeneconomy.co.uk
our changing world
"From the Industrial Revolution to Climate Change: What Happened and Why?"
2041foundation.org/climate-change-what-happened-and-why
How do buildings contribute to climate change?
archive.curbed.com/2019/9/19/20874234/buildings-carbon-emissions-climate-change
Operating vs Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment: The Difference and Why It Matters
sustainablebrands.com/read/product-service-design-innovation/operating-vs-embodied-carbon-in-the-built-environment-the-difference-and-why-it-matters
The Story of Stuff
www.storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-stuff/
End Fuel Poverty
www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk
"In a Land of Cold, The Architecture is Tested by Heat" (interactive Washington Post article)
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2022/uk-housing-extreme-temperatures-architecture/
materials & components
Carbon Counts
carboncounts.fcbstudios.com
Carbon Smart - Materials Palette
materialspalette.org/palette/
The Natural Materials Thematic Group - Architects! Climate Action Network
www.architectscan.org/naturalmaterials
UKCMB - Moisture guidance for existing homeowners
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBWlXLMnqBk&t=22s
First In Architecture - Building Fabric 02 – Insulation Materials
https://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/building-fabric-02-insulation-materials
Impact of insulation type and depth on condensation risk
thermafleece-com.stackstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Rethinking-IWI-2023.pdf
adding external wall insulation to a home
https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/external-wall-insulation
Natural Fibre Insulation Group
asbp.org.uk/group/natural-fibre-insulation
How to insulate your loft with natural insulations
www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/post/how-to-insulate-your-loft-with-natural-insulations
GreenSpec - Housing Retrofit: Ventilated pitched roof insulation
www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/ventilated-roof-insulation/
GreenSpec - Housing Retrofit: Unventilated pitched roof insulation
www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/unventilated-roof-insulation/
Edward Bulmer - "lifting the lid" (on paint)
https://www.edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk/liftingthelid/
GreenSpec - The 'Red List' of Building Materials
www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/red-list-of-banned-toxic-construction-materials/
Understanding Sprayed Foam Insulation in Domestic Roofs
www.property-care.org/webinars/webinar-details?id=173135
Shade The UK - Info Hub
www.shadetheuk.com/infohub
active systems
Guide for Solar Water Heating
https://www.screwfix.com/guides/heating-plumbing/solar-water-heating-guide
BBC iPlayer: "Heat Pumps"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fzltvd
Catapult: Mass rollout of heat pumps feasible, but innovation needed to accelerate take up
https://es.catapult.org.uk/news/mass-rollout-of-heat-pumps-feasible-but-innovation-needed/
What is MVHR heat recovery ventilation?
https://www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk/information-hub/heat-recovery-ventilation-mvhr/
suppliers
Ecological Building Systems
www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/
Ecomerchant
www.ecomerchant.co.uk/
PYC
www.pycsystems.co.uk
Green Building Store
www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk
Back to Earth
www.backtoearth.co.uk
Lime Green
www.lime-green.co.uk
Ty-Mawr
www.lime.org.uk
other resources & training
The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products
https://asbp.org.uk/
The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB)
https://aecb.net/
Find an energy certificate
www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
YouTube channels
Back to Earth (Chris Brookman)
www.youtube.com/@BacktoEarthLTD
Ecological Building Systems
www.youtube.com/@EcologicalBuildingSystems
Green Building Store
www.youtube.com/@GreenBuildingStore
Cosy Homes Oxfordshire
www.youtube.com/@cosyhomesoxfordshire2015
Homebuilding & Renovating
www.youtube.com/@HomebuildingMagazine
behaviour change & leadership
TED.com - Alex Laskey - How behavioral science can lower your energy bill
https://www.ted.com/talks/alex_laskey_how_behavioral_science_can_lower_your_energy_bill?language=en
Camden Passivhaus User Guide
https://bere.co.uk/research/camden-passivhaus-user-guide
POWER
a ‘show and do’ project building a solar POWER STATION across the rooftops (streets, schools, community buildings) of North East London via enacting a grassroots Green New Deal
https://www.power.film/
case studies
Zetland Road Passivhaus, Manchester (by Ecospheric)
https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/UserFiles/File/UK%20PH%20Awards/2021/PHTawarads2021_Zetland%20Road_sensitive%20info%20removed.pdf
4 Hiley Road, NW London - Small Scale Retrofit
https://ukphc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2.-Session-4.-Detailed-Design-Small-Mid.-Rafael-Delimata-and-Patrick-Osborne.pdf
Passivhaus Retrofit Case Studies
https://passivhaustrust.org.uk/competitions_and_campaigns/passivhaus-retrofit/#Retrofit%20Case%20Studies
"Sensitive passive retrofit transforms Victorian North London home"
https://passivehouseplus.co.uk/magazine/upgrade/sensitive-passive-retrofit-transforms-victorian-north-london-home
Muswell Hill Low Energy House (by Architecture for London)
https://www.designsindetail.com/featured-projects/low-energy-house-architecture-for-london
Passive House Plus (Sustainable Building) magazine
https://issuu.com/passivehouseplus
finance & grants
Energy Saving Trust - Financial Support
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/financial-support/
UK Business Climate Hub - Get business grants, green loans and financing for a retrofit
https://businessclimatehub.uk/get-grants-loans-financing/
Green Finance Institute - Green Mortgage Hub
https://www.greenfinanceinstitute.com/programmes/ceeb/green-mortgages/
guides & other documents
LETI Retrofit Guide
STBA Responsible Retrofit
PAS 2035 Guide to Significance
Internal Wall Insulation (IWI)
Retrofit Guides
Passivhaus Retrofit
Fabric Improvements
Decarbonise Your House NOW!!
Suspended Timber Floors
Passivhaus Airtightness Guide
Great Homes Upgrade
Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings
External Wall Insulation (EWI)
Solid Floor Insulation
Thermal Bridging & Airtightness
Community Retrofit Guide
Architecture & Health
External Solid-Wall Insulation
Thermal Bridging Guide
Retrofit to Regeneration
STBA Responsible Retrofit
Retrofit Playbook
Solid Wall Insulation
Thermal Bypass Risks
Trustmark Guide
workshop slides
Below are a selection of slides from our courses which are text or information "heavy" and therefore may be difficult to make notes on during the actual workshop.
