Forum Topic

Green Homes Grants

The RIBA have a campaign Retrofit First.  We have a lot of old housing stock and a lot of that could do with better insulation but insulation can sometimes cause problems.  It would be good to see a lot of solutions from elsewhere in place so that we can be happier allowing random new companies created to take advantage of new Govt grants to work on our homes!https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-green-homes-grant-scheme

Philippa Bond ● 2065d10 Comments

RetroFirst is appears is actually an Architects' Journal campaign. Have a look.https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/retrofirst

Philippa Bond ● 2061d

Do you really think that it has improved?I was looking for the information from Transition Town Tooting as there was an item there about an architect who had done insulating work on her house and she talked about it.  I found it under Superhomes.There are various other pieces on the internet now.  I haven't found enough on the pitfalls and how to avoid them.  Some years ago there were eco-homes open to the public once a year around Totnes - home of the Transition movement - which were inspirational but I was never there at the right time.

Philippa Bond ● 2062d

Do you really think that it has improved?I was looking for the information from Transition Town Tooting as there was an item there about an architect who had done insulating work on her house and she talked about it.  I found it under Superhomes.There are various other pieces on the internet now.  I haven't found enough on the pitfalls and how to avoid them.  Some years ago there were eco-homes open to the public once a year around Totnes - home of the Transition movement which were inspirational but I was never there at the right time.

Philippa Bond ● 2062d

"homes-are-changing-too-slowly.."Philippa, yes too slowly that article was from May 2014 :-)

Ed Robinson ● 2063d

"homes-are-changing-too-slowly.."That is slow from May 2014 :-)

Ed Robinson ● 2063d

https://theconversation.com/homes-are-changing-too-slowly-but-you-can-make-your-house-a-superhome-26422

Philippa Bond ● 2063d

Yes, insulation can cause condensation.  The RIBA is promoting "Retrofit First" and with so many Victorian and Edwardian buildings it would be good to easily see some good examples of successful ones.  There was one on the Tooting Town Transition some years ago but since then the biomass heater presumably is no longer considered a good thing.  That's the problem - science never stands still.

Philippa Bond ● 2064d

Applying additional insulation to a home can be a very easy thing to do - it can also be ill-advised and needs to be fully thought out before proceeding: please don't be blinded by salespeople eager to sell you a produce - do some research first and do get a professional opinion before proceeding would be my advice, this from a retired architect. Good luck.

Clifford Cowell ● 2064d

Thank you Philippa, I would have prefered VAT to be taken off or reduced on: insulation, heat pumps & solar panels etc -  possibly even secondary and triple glazing.

Ed Robinson ● 2065d

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/green-homes-grant/

Philippa Bond ● 2065d