A new report from the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) has outlined how building retrofit schemes can help to make indoor environments healthier, safer and more energy efficient.

The report illustrates the role of retrofitting as part of the UK’s wider efforts to reduce emissions and meet net zero targets by 2050. It provides insights into how the initiatives can help meet the Government’s objectives, such as the Warm Homes Plan, which aims to make UK homes cleaner, greener and more affordable to run.

Since heating and cooling buildings accounts for 17% of national emissions, the NEPC calls for a systems-based approach to retrofit. This approach not only provides an environmental and economic solution but also significantly improves public health.

Key factors for consideration in retrofitting include insulation, airtightness, ventilation, air cleaning and low-carbon heating.

The NEPC provides five key recommendations for policymakers, which are:

1. Health-based outcomes: Embed health-based outcomes in retrofit programmes, supported by public information campaigns
2. Public buildings assessment: Large-scale assessment of health risks in public buildings to inform retrofit needs
3. Digital passports for buildings: Trial digital records for building performance and maintenance to support long-term management
4. Training and skills development: Incorporate health and sustainability into training for retrofit professionals
5. Research and development: Address knowledge gaps on long-term health impacts of indoor environments and integrate findings into policy and practice

The NEPC urges policymakers and industry stakeholders to collaborate to identify how this approach can be implemented, allowing building owners to address specific challenges going forward.

For further information and to read the full report, please visit the Royal Academy of Engineering website.