Creating warmer, more comfortable homes in Nottinghamshire

Improvements inside and out

Kay, a mother of two, was born and bred in Tuxford and has lived in her home for 17 years. We visited her home on the coldest day of the year, with her home still surrounded by scaffolding as the final works were being completed. But the difference was already striking – her house really stood out with its fresh, modern exterior.

Going back to when Kay first heard from the Council about the upcoming retrofit, she didn’t hesitate."I was excited for it to be done. A lot of the front of the house was falling off. I used to have coal central heating and when they took it all out, we had loads of patches all over.”

Houses like Kay’s were originally built for the miners over 40 years ago, and were only meant to last 10 years. They were built of concrete and didn’t have any insulation, just a coal fire to keep the house warm. "When it was really cold I was using a lot of electricity, and I used to get bills for £250.”

But now, with new triple-glazed windows and better insulation, she has already noticed a difference. "The windows were drafty before, even though they weren’t that old. But these ones? They’re triple-glazed now, and it feels so much better."

These home improvements have led to others, with Kay saying: "It gave me the motivation to decorate upstairs too!"

When a warm home is essential

Long-term Nottingham resident, Kevin, has lived in his Newark flat for four years, but it wasn’t until the retrofit that his home truly felt warm.

Kevin, who is housebound, has kidney failure and undergoes home dialysis four times a day. For him, a warm and energy-efficient home isn’t just about comfort – it’s essential.

Kevin had an air source heat pump for 10 years, but it wasn’t performing efficiently until the insulation, doors, and windows were upgraded. Now, he’s really feeling the benefit: "I’ve noticed a difference in the mornings – there’s no chill, no coldness. It does seem to be holding the temperature better.”

Retrofit measures shouldn’t be seen as individual measures, but part of a whole property system. This means that low-carbon heating should be considered alongside the fabric of property - walls, doors, windows, insulation and ventilation. Kevin’s home is an example why this is critical to ensure that retrofit achieves what it sets out to - warmer, more efficient homes. A whole-house and fabric-first approach to retrofit is a component of the principles behind the PAS 2035 standard, and all Warm Homes funded projects are required to meet this standard.

Take a look at the guide on the RISE Knowledge Hub: Understanding PAS 2035 for more on the requirements of the standard.

Like many people facing rising energy costs, Kevin has been doing everything he can to cut down on bills. "I’m trying to help myself, doing everything I can to save money," he explained. When it comes to his advice to others considering retrofit upgrades, his advice is clear and simple: “Get it done! Because it will help, it does help.”

A home transformed

John and Amanda have lived in their Nottinghamshire home for 19 years. Before the retrofit, poor insulation meant they felt every cold snap. But this winter? "It’s totally different,” said Amanda. 

Their semi-detached house had suffered from draughts coming through the walls and poorly fitted windows. They even resorted to filling the gaps with expanding foam. But new external wall insulation, doors, and triple-glazed windows have made the world of difference.

“Before, you could feel a draught all through the house," John explained. “It’s not too cold in the house now, so there’s no rush to turn the heating on.”

They were delighted with their new windows, and gave their window fitters top marks. “The windows make a huge difference,” said Amanda. “Before, it was dark, but now it looks bigger and lighter.” John commented on the fact that the triple glazing has made a real difference to noise levels in the home, it’s much quieter now.

Secure in the knowledge that their home is now more energy efficient, they have no regrets. Amanda’s advice to others considering a retrofit is: “Oh, definitely, if you’re having second thoughts, think again—because it’s going to change your life."

Looking forward to a warmer future

The 119 Nottinghamshire project is making a tangible difference to people’s homes and lives, improving comfort, reducing energy bills, and helping residents take control of their heating.

Getting the installation right is key to ensuring your project delivers what you expect, avoiding any harm to residents or buildings. RISE’s advice on Installation Overview takes you through key steps to planning installation, and key factors to ensure installation success and happy residents.