Retrofitting thousands of older homes and buildings is one of the biggest challenges the UK faces in our efforts to reach net zero by 2050.

The country has some of the oldest housing stock in Europe and a recent report put through the House of Commons estimated that 80% of buildings currently standing will still be in use by 2050, meaning that bringing them up to the new standard of energy efficiency is a major priority.

The government, businesses and most importantly, people, will now need to work in unison to combat climate change and reach these ambitious goals.

National initiatives

There are several government programmes and initiatives that are encouraging different businesses to pivot towards sustainable energy and to become a crucial component of the UK's economic landscape. Everyone recognises the importance of promoting environmentally friendly practices and the government supports businesses that actively contribute to sustainability.

Many buildings across the UK can benefit from retrofitting, however older homes are the ones that need the most attention. Regular issues that older homes face include damp, condensation, draughts and lack of insulation that makes them harder to heat, but also provide unsafe living conditions.

One scheme that looks to tackle this issue is the Local Authority Delivery Scheme – Phase 3 (LAD3). Funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), it sees money awarded to local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of their domestic dwellings in the lower-income households in their region.

Motivated either by the continuous rise of energy prices or a desire for more sustainable living, there's a lot of evidence to suggest that people across the UK would be interested in retrofitting their homes, but they lack the knowledge of how to go about it and the confidence in making the right choices.

Acivico Group, a company with civic focus based in the West Midlands, was asked to project manage and support the delivery of the LAD3 programme to retrofit nearly 700 properties in Balsall Heath, an inner-city area of Birmingham. The project involved making building improvements to increase energy efficiency performance to help reduce fuel consumption and costs, lower carbon emissions and create more comfortable and healthier living environments for residents.

Being led by the community

However, the firm understood that to succeed, resident buy-in was essential and that they needed to collaborate with trusted community groups who were driven by putting the needs of the local people at the forefront of the project. In Balsall Heath, these organisations were The MECC Trust, Acocks Greener and Retrofit Balsall Heath.

Funding – that would reduce their bills – was seen by many as ‘too good to be true'. These organisations were well-placed to build local confidence in retrofit among residents as they have already built a strong trust with the community and can provide advice without the pressure of a sales pitch.

Marina Robertson, Managing Director at Acivico Group, said: ‘The impact that the cost of energy has for home economics should not be underestimated. Money spent on energy bills cannot be spent on food, hobbies, in local shops, in having fun. It affects not only the homes, but the micro-economy of neighbourhoods. At Acivico Group, we strongly believe that with some support our communities can lead their own initiatives, and self-deliver the decarbonisation measures that will make the biggest impact.

‘We have been delighted to have been able to support this project and become – among others – a catalyst for local communities in Birmingham, taking charge of their own initiatives. Acivico is a civic company whose aim is to promote public wellbeing and sustainable development. We would love to talk to others about how to make this happen in their own neighbourhoods.'

A lasting legacy

The LAD3 scheme in Balsall Heath was used as a springboard for promoting local energy efficiency activism and showcasing the importance of community led projects which provide residents the opportunity to influence the delivery of their own net zero neighbourhood.

Acivico supported local groups to develop the messaging and allowed them to take the lead on deciding which tools and techniques would be most effective in engaging their communities, creating a sense of local ownership.

English was not a first language for many people in Balsall Heath, so working with embedded community groups, who could translate and explain the retrofit plans, was key to the success of LAD3. Home visits and drop-in sessions called ‘energy cafès' gave residents a chance to come visit Acivico as many times as they needed, to learn more about the project and ask questions.

Acivico facilitated more than 50 energy cafès in the area which were attended by almost 1000 residents in total. Some energy cafes continue to take place under local leadership, leaving a legacy of sustainability at the heart of the community.

For more information on this subject, and to find out more about Acivico, visit www.acivicogroup.co.uk