The UK Government has identified the retrofit of buildings as a key lever in their low carbon strategy to achieve 68% carbon reduction by 2030. All affordable homes will be required to achieve a minimum EPC of C by 2030. All ECO funded refurbishment projects are required to achieve full compliance with PAS 2035:2019 from July 2021 with a 20% funding uplift for projects that comply before the deadline.

PAS 2035:2019 (Specification for the Energy Retrofit of Domestic Buildings) is revolutionising the refurbishment of buildings. Over the last 30 years energy efficiency programmes have focussed on single measures (i.e.: cavity wall insulation or window replacement, etc.) but all future programmes now require a holistic solution designed to suit the specific building type.

To comply with PAS 2035, a qualified Retrofit Coordinator must be employed to provide a 'Whole House Retrofit' solution.

In a climate crisis, all our decisions need to be taken through the lens of the impact they have on our environment. If we don’t know the impact, we can’t make the best decisions. And the decisions we make around retrofit, when multiplied by the vast number of homes that need retrofitting, will materially impact on the UK’s overall emissions in the coming years. Don’t stop retrofitting for the want of an embodied carbon assessment, but where possible do let it be part of the web of factors that guide decisions. There’s little point in putting so much effort into reducing buildings’ operational emissions if many tonnes of carbon are emitted to do so!

Read the full article written by Lizzy Westmacott, Associate Director & Matt Wingrove, Senior Architect from our architects ECD Architects for Unlock Net Zero on why we should be measuring the embodied carbon on retrofits.

Retrofitting existing buildings will allow individuals and businesses to save money and be more sustainable. It will let people across the UK live in warmer and healthier homes. Crucially, it will help our industry, and the country as a whole, decarbonise.

Eligible bidders have until Friday 19th January 2024 to submit applications via the dedicated application portal.
 
All the application documentation, including the application form, competition guidance and clarification questions, and associated templates such as the draft Grant Funding Agreement (GFA), are now available.

Contact us now to discuss your SHDF Wave 2.2 project.

Keegans work collaboratively with our sister company ECD Architects Ltd to deliver sustainable projects for our clients and communities. We are driven by our core business principle to integrate sustainable measures in all projects as well as look at our business operations to reduce our carbon footprint.
 
Keegans are involved in leading sustainability projects and work closely with our public sector clients to identify retrofit opportunities on existing buildings along with building projects that can be developed as Passivhaus projects.
 
We are at the forefront of Retrofit projects to reduce carbon emissions from existing leaky homes and reducing fuel poverty. We invest heavily in the training and development of our Retrofit Co-ordinators and Assessors, carrying out workshops and conferences to educate our clients on sustainable design and we take pride in working with suppliers who take a responsible attitude toward the environment. In the office, we are focused on reducing our impact on the environment through our operational activities.
 
Globally, we all need to do our part and make sustainable choices, Keegans are committed to delivering sustainable projects and continuing to educate ourselves and find new ways towards a greener future. Join us on our mission!