Energy saving technology in the home

Longhurst Group is proud to have contributed to Shakespeare Martineau’s, 'Retrofit: Engaging the Hearts and Minds of Tenants' report,

which includes a landmark survey of more than 730 social housing customers, garnering the attitudes and opinions about retrofitting their homes.

As well as exposing the needs and concerns of customers, the report also highlights the need for more joined up thinking in funding retrofit programmes as well as warning that, without a more holistic climate view, some of the most energy efficient homes today could be over-heating in the future.

Results show that less than half of customers (46 percent) report having had any energy saving technology installed in their homes in the past two years, despite 86 percent wanting to be more involved in the process of making their home more energy efficient.

Research also shows differences in understanding between different age groups, with customers over 55 more likely to raise concerns about understanding the process, works and technology.

This lack of understanding is consistent with a lack of knowledge or information: on average 64 percent of people either don’t know or aren’t sure about the options available to them for having their home retrofitted. This figure jumps up significantly for people aged 55 and over to 84 percent.

Jo-Ann Stother, Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Programme Manager at Longhurst Group, said: “The data in this report is fascinating. It confirms a number of our suspicions about customer attitudes and will help us better work with our contractors to engage customers in the retrofit process.

“We see from the survey that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to customer engagement, and as a sector we’re working hard to close the knowledge gap and meet the rapidly approaching 2050 net zero deadline.”

Undertaking retrofit projects is a significant challenge for the social housing sector, which owns 4.4 million properties across the UK, many of which are classed as ageing housing stock.

Research shows that substandard housing is costing the NHS £1.4 billion a year, from slips, trips, falls as well as issues from drafts, damp and poor insulation.

Louise Drew, Head of Building Communities at Shakespeare Martineau and lead author of the report, said: “A good home creates savings elsewhere – and given the NHS is seeing immense pressure, why aren’t we connecting the dots?

“If we started recording what mattered, such as data that demonstrates the benefits high-quality homes have on health and well being, including a consistency in temperature and accessibility, then the government could introduce pay-backs for providers who can demonstrate health improvements through housing, which can be reinvested back into the housing stock and community.”

Download the full report.