Low-cost retrofit of ex-council 1950s family home: CB1

Thu 16 Sep 2021, 7:00pm – 8:00pm

This was a fascinating talk on the low-cost creative interventions you can take in your home attended by 20 participants. See video and slides of their tour below.

Meet your hosts, Suzie and Iain:

Suzie and Iain moved into their 1950s semi-detached home in 2006 and spent over 13 years retrofitting it in stages.

Alongside eco-measures such as solar thermal, solar PV and insulation, they are also keen to make lifestyle changes such as not flying for leisure and using renewable energy providers. Their retrofit includes a few creative additions including insulating the bath to enable longer hot baths and green roofs on the garden sheds.

Since the retrofit, they have reduced their home energy use by 60% (68% less than the national average) and expect to produce more electricity from the solar PV than they use.

Suzie says: “Now our utility bills are only £40 a month, yet our home is warm and snug, with a close connection between the house, garden and seasons.”

This tour is a great opportunity to hear about how Suzie and Ian have found living in this 1950s semi-detached retrofitted eco home.

Key features of this home: