Knowledge Hwb

UK National Retrofit Hub

The National Retrofit Hub is a non-profit organisation that brings together those involved in the retrofit sector to share their expertise and work together to enable a National Retrofit Strategy to be delivered. Retrofitting homes is vital for the UK to achieve its energy, fuel poverty and climate change goals.

BE-ST - The Scottish Built Environment Hub

An international centre of excellence supported by Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council and Scotland’s Enterprise Agencies, bringing together key stakeholder groups; industry, academia, government & public sector, and Scotland’s citizens to accelerate the transition to zero carbon.

The Future Homes Hub

The Future Homes Hub has been established to facilitate the collaboration needed within and beyond the new homes sector to help meet the climate and environmental challenges ahead. It is an independent organisation bringing together the homebuilding sector with the wider circle of supply chain, infrastructure, finance and government organisations that need to collaborate.

The Good Homes Alliance

A comprehensive resource covering all aspects of building quality and technology across new build and retrofit activity.

Woodknowledge Wales

Welsh based knowledge hub on forestry, manufacturing and housing. Guidance documents, political and technical briefings, webinar recordings and podcasts for free. This hub also includes external resources of particular interest to our key issues.

The Active Building Centre Research Programme

A consortium of educational, research and commercial organisations collaborating to promote open source data in the built environment using standardised protocols.

MCS Product database

The complete database of approved and previously approved products that have been registered for use under the MCS scheme rules since the scheme started in 2008. Includes, Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Heat pumps, Wind turbines (up to 50kW), Biomass boilers and Battery Storage products.

BRE Product Characteristics Database

The BRE Product Characteristics Data Base supplies technical data for Boilers, Heat Pumps, Mechanical Ventilation, Heat Recovery, MicroCHP, Boiler controls, Storage heaters, Heat Networks and HIU used in SAP.

BRE SAP Appendix Q Database

Appendix Q of SAP allows for validated individual branded product performance to be determined by testing against a specification that has been agreed by DESNZ

Greenspec Building products

A directory of independently endorsed Green building materials for sustainable construction selected by specifiers.

Welsh Government Infographic - Carbon Budget 2021-25

Net Zero Carbon Budget 2: 2021 - 2025 - full document

The Welsh Government Carbon budget document- Residential buildings Pages 100 -118

Welsh Housing Quality Standard - rerofit

Standards for maintaining and improving existing social housing in Wales

Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021

Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021 Creating Beautiful Homes and Places (WDQR 2021) for new build affordable housing

Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021 Creating Beautiful Homes and Places (WDQR 2021) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Addendum

Welsh Government officials have reviewed WDQR 2021 in operation over the past two years and have concluded that the standard does not need to be substantially changed to maintain policy aims at this time. However, questions in relation to the application of the standard have arisen which are addressed in this Addendum.

Optimised Retrofit Programme

Optimised RetroFit Programme (ORP): ORP 3 is for the financial years of 2022-2025, the main themes of the programme are: Affordable Warmth Decarbonisation and understanding the best pathway to better energy efficiency for that home and its residents.

Welsh Innovative Housing Programme

The Innovative Housing Programme (IHP), was been developed to help inform the Welsh Government about the type of homes it should financially support in the future

Building 20,000 new low carbon homes

How the Welsh commitment to build 20,000 new low carbon social homes for rent may impact on future occupants in social housing.

Stronger, fairer greener Wales: net zero skills action plan

Wales made a commitment to publish a skills action plan to support its net zero plan commitments. Skills is a recognised key enabler for delivering change.

ORP case studies

A number of useful reports on the outcomes of the Optimised Retrofit Programme

RICS Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA)

RICS Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) - The globally recognised standard for whole-life carbon emission measurement calculation. It is increasingly being used in Welsh procurement frameworks to support carbon costings, and is recommended in the Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021 for carbon accounting.

Living Well in Low Carbon Homes

Living Well in Low Carbon Homes Project Report - Active Building Centre Research Programme. Project team: Professor Karen Henwood, Professor Nick Pidgeon, Dr Fiona Shirani, Dr Kate O’Sullivan and Dr Rachel Hale February 2023

NESTA - social and technical reports

Reports on a wide range of topics around innovation and technology in the built environment can be found here

WoodKnowledge Wales - Building Performance Evaluation Guide

New homes often fail to meet low-energy targets, and to satisfy residents with fundamental issues such as ease of use, summer comfort and energy costs. There is little Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) happening routinely on projects to close the performance gap. A step change is needed to transition to net zero carbon while making our homes comfortable, healthy and enjoyable. This guidance is aimed at housing clients, and anyone interested in Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) who want to evaluate and improve the performance of homes.

Green Finance Institute - Green Mortgage Guide

A holistic overview of the Green Mortgages in the UK. This page is aimed at stakeholders who are focused on the built environment and how to finance the decarbonisation of the sector.

Good Homes Alliance - The Green Shift Report

The Green Shift Report (2023) looks at the existing financial incentives for higher environmental performance of new homes”. The document is an exploration to see if a ‘tipping point’ has been reached, one where existing financial incentives provide high levels of environmental sustainability in a way that are financially advantageous for all stakeholders, and if this route is now the most financially viable option.

TrustMark

TrustMark is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme that covers work a consumer chooses to have carried out in or around their home.

Energy Saving Trust

Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation – working to address the climate emergency. A respected and trusted voice on energy efficiency and clean energy solutions, Energy Saving Trust continue to work towards a smart, decarbonised, decentralised energy system.

Nest

The Nest scheme offers energy efficiency advice and if eligible, support to install energy efficiency improvements in households across Wales.

Find ways to save energy in your home

This provides recommendations for home improvements that could make your property cheaper to heat and keep warm.

Climate Action Wales

This Strategy sets out a framework for the Welsh Government and its partners to work together to support and engage the people and communities of Wales in action on the climate and nature emergencies.

Cartrefi Clyd

Cartrefi Clyd (Welsh for Cosy Homes) offer a subsidised service to help homeowners make their properties fit for the future, whilst managing the challenges associated with retrofit. Put simply, retrofit means applying improvements to your home to make it as clyd as possible. They are made up of seven partners, all not for profit organisations, based in every part of Wales.

RICS Residential Retrofit Standard

RICS Residential Retrofit Standard - RICS’ first residential retrofit standard has been created in response to the growing demand for retrofit services in the UK, especially in the privately financed market. It ensures that consumers carrying out retrofit upgrades to a residential property receive advice from skilled, regulated professionals, and protects the public interest by upholding high standards in a growing market.