The research shows that four out of every ten professionals say that there is an insufficient level of retrofit training available
The Building Services Research and Information Association (BRSIA) has released a report stating that low retrofit understanding is blocking the achievement of Net-Zero goals.
The research surveyed 500 construction professionals, finding that one-in-four doubt the long-term efficiency of retrofit technologies, and feel they won’t last more than 20 years.
A significant number of professionals feel retrofit understanding is lacking
The lack of retrofit training available is in direct conflict with the prevailing opinion that retrofitting existing buildings is a more effective method of reducing carbon emissions than constructing entirely new buildings, with the survey finding 62% of professionals feel that the benefits of doing so cannot be ignored.
The study also found that just 43% of professionals measure building performance after envelope changes, demonstrating a trend that ignores energy, carbon, and comfort evaluations, leading to suboptimal buildings.
The study was conducted in the context of the Climate Change Committee warning the UK that they may well miss net-zero targets in June 2024, and in November, the Government put £30m into a heat pump uptake scheme.
In January, the Government also awarded £1.8m for a home retrofit grant scheme.
In this context, this study finds that the confidence in retrofit technology and knowledge may currently be too low to meet net-zero targets. The study found that one-in-four were not confident retrofit technologies could last over the next 20 years.
55% of sole traders and 56% of repair-workers surveyed thought that retrofit measures were worth the investment, showing that just under half of both feel that it is not worth the investment – possibly demonstrating that there is a need for training on the benefits of retrofitting.
The issue of comfort was also examined in the study
Comfort was shown to be a divided issue in terms of definition, with two-in-five defining it via air quality and ventilation, with the rest saying thermal comfort is the defining factor.
Natural lighting and acoustic comfort were both also contested as important factors.
As such, it can simply depend on which retrofit worker is in charge that determines what retrofit properties take precedence in a building. This demonstrates a need for a more standardised approach when assessing retrofit options.
Tom Garrigan, technical director at BSRIA, said: “The results of this study show a snapshot of the industry’s approach to retrofitting. There’s a clear need for detailed pre- and post-retrofit assessments. Understanding a building’s condition, possible defects, and energy performance is an essential step but one that appears to be lacking. Without high-quality testing, building owners will never know the true value of retrofit investments.”
Lisa Ashworth, CEO at BSRIA, said: “Retrofitting 29 million homes by 2050 is an ambitious goal for the UK. To achieve it, we must upskill the construction workforce on the value of retrofitting and the need for a meticulous approach to every property. As the saying goes, ‘you can’t test what you don’t measure’—a mindset the entire industry must embrace.”
Jake Dowling, head of decarbonisation at Seddon Property Services, said:
“Addressing the retrofit skills gap is essential in achieving our ambitious net zero goals, but current training frameworks are outdated and unfit for purpose. With 350,000 new construction workers needed by 2028 if the government is to fulfil its Net Zero Strategy – the cost of doing nothing is just too high.
Effective retrofitting demands collaboration amongst training providers, government bodies, manufacturers, and contractors. Each stakeholder plays a pivotal role in equipping the workforce with the skills needed to meet sustainability targets.
The BSRIA survey found that 62% believe that retrofit projects provide greater benefits for achieving net zero than new-build homes, but without proper data collection and analysis, the effectiveness of these projects is severely undermined.
The journey to Net Zero demands a workforce equipped with future-ready skills and policies need to shift from guidance to regulation. Current training programs, which are rooted in legacy systems, must evolve to include emerging technologies such as heat pumps, smart energy solutions, and digital twin modelling. Standardised education initiatives focused on sustainability and energy efficiency will not only bridge the skills gap but also deliver long-term community benefits through aligned social value programs.”
