Retrofitting, the process of making alterations to an existing property to improve its energy efficiency, has been at the forefront of industry debates since the campaign to reach net zero by 2050 gained prevalence.
Current UK property presents its own challenges, with a lack of supply as compared with counterparts across Europe. Existing stock is aging, and maintenance and upgrades are essential. Diverse stock makes standardisation difficult and the ongoing supply chain bottlenecks further delay processes.
On the flip side, new stock will comply with modern construction techniques, leading to better energy efficiency. New stock will also meet current safety and regulatory standards. But constructing new buildings can be expensive and carbon emissions are associated with demolishing structures and constructing new ones.
The debate remains – Should we focus efforts on retrofitting old buildings or demolish and rebuild them? Join an industry expert as we delve into the pros and cons of retrofitting versus building new stock. What is the process of determining whether a building is viable for retrofit? What are the multiple measures to consider when assessing the success of a retrofit building?