Meet Emily and John
When Emily and John* bought their semi-detached home in Keswick in 2021, they knew they were taking on a significant project. The property had no working heating system, ageing windows and doors, and was cold and draughty throughout.
At the same time, they wanted to replace an outdated extension with a larger, more practical living space. Rather than tackle improvements separately, they decided to bring the extension and retrofit works together in one ambitious programme before moving in.
KEY FACTS
Date built: 1950-1966
Wall type: Cavity wall
Floor area: 88.52m² before, 174m² after
Protections: Conservation area, Lake District National Park
Overall approach: Project managed by the client with architectural technologist and system supplier support
Services accessed from Futureproof Cumbria: Your Home Retrofit Options Report, Airtightness test
Results: CO²: -95% | Energy use: -90% | Energy bills: -88%
*The clients have been anonymised for data protection purposes.
Taking a fabric-first approach
From the outset, Emily and John were committed to low carbon heating. Having decided that an air source heat pump would be the best solution for their home, they understood that reducing heat loss would be essential to maximise efficiency and keep running costs low.
Their retrofit focused first on improving the building fabric, including:
Internal wall and floor insulation
Additional loft insulation
Triple-glazed windows and doors
Capped and filled chimneys
Improved airtightness
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR)
Air source heat pump
Solar PV panels
The results
The completed project has delivered impressive modelled savings:
reduction in carbon emissions
reduction in energy use
reduction in annual energy bills
These figures are based on energy used to heat the house to 18℃, compared to the building’s pre-retrofit condition.
The homeowners now enjoy a warm, comfortable home with significantly lower running costs.
"We have a warm, comfortable home and learned quite a lot of skills as we did much of the work ourselves."
Challenges along the way
The project wasn’t without its difficulties. Managing a major renovation while both working full-time and living elsewhere was demanding. To keep costs manageable, they undertook much of the work themselves, including installing the MVHR system. Learning as they went meant some elements had to be revisited and reworked; nevertheless they were pleased to develop new skills throughout the project.
The property’s location in an area exposed to severe wind-driven rain also influenced key decisions. Rather than filling the cavity walls, they opted for a lower-risk vapour open internal wall insulation system.
How Futureproof Cumbria helped
Emily and John first connected with Futureproof Cumbria after watching our free retrofit YouTube videos.
They decided to invest in a Your Home Retrofit Options Report, which helped them understand the options available and the likely impact of different measures on energy use, running costs and carbon emissions.
Towards the end of the project, Futureproof Cumbria also carried out an Airtightness test, confirming the building’s improved performance while identifying a small area of leakage where a wire had been replaced. This highlighted an opportunity to improve the airtightness even further.
"Get an airtightness test before covering the airtight layer – there were quite a few gaps in the layer that needed fixing."
Emily and John's top tips
- Pay attention to the order in which works are done – John and Emily would do “a lot of things in a different order” if they were to do the retrofit project again.
- Futureproof Cumbria’s Your Home Retrofit Options Report “was a good starting point” – this helps you consider your options before taking the next step.
- Check the building’s airtightness before completing the project – there could be opportunities for improvement that have been missed!
Our range of support helps you make confident, informed choices every step of the way.
Visit our Retrofit Services webpage to find out more, or get in touch below.
…or fill in our online form.
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