When people talk about ‘shallow’ or ‘first’ retrofit vs ‘deep’ retrofit, what do they mean?
Retro comes from the Latin word ‘back’ or ‘behind’, and in the case of buildings, ‘retrofitting’ simply means fitting something or making changes after the building has reached a completed or finished state.
At The CHEESE Project, we can’t survey a building that doesn’t exist, or doesn’t yet have its windows and doors fitted etc. So after a thermal imaging survey, when we talk about things people might want to do to improve the energy performance of their home, we are always going to be talking about retrofit.
And what about the ‘shallow’ part?
According to the LETI Climate Emergency Retrofit Guide, shallow retrofit covers changes made that amount to an up to 30% reduction in space-heating demand. Or in their words:
“A retrofit involving several, relatively minor interventions (e.g. loft insulation, cavity wall insulation) which may also include a change to the heat source and ventilation systems. This type of retrofit could be expected to realise no more than a 30% reduction in energy demand.“
From our point of view, ‘shallow retrofit’ refers to the smaller and often DIY-friendly jobs that can improve the energy-efficiency of your home, within a shorter timeframe, or a smaller budget. We often call these ‘first’ retrofit, thanks to their cost and time accessible nature.
What tasks count as shallow retrofit?
The list of shallow retrofit jobs could become very long indeed, but some more common cold-beating and DIY first retrofit measures that people can take around the house that come under this category are:
- Lagging pipes
- Fitting draughtproofing strips
- Adding or adjusting curtains
- Installing radiator foil
- Covering letterboxes
- Closing vents in winter or when not needed
- Blocking chimneys
- Fitting door shoes
- Low-tech secondary glazing, such as window film
- Maximising loft insulation, including the loft hatch
- Caulking gaps around skirting, light fittings, windows and more
- Check and service any ventilation systems
Larger jobs that still come under the technical term ‘shallow’ retrofit, where you will need a contractor, include:
- Double or triple glazing
- Cavity wall insulation
- Floor insulation
- Boiler upgrade
Other eco, shallow retrofit tasks not related to warmth:
- Changing lighting to LEDs
- Fitting water-saving aerators and restrictors to reduce flow
- Motion sensors, smart, or timer plugs on lighting and appliances
What are the advantages of shallow retrofit?
These kinds of jobs are what we tend to call easy-wins, where they can be done with minimal disruption, step by step, and start at very low cost. Instead of having to wait a long time, making expensive plans, people can take control of various tasks right away, and feel empowered on their journey towards becoming more energy efficient. Shallow or first retrofit tasks are often the kind that are more flexible to fit around your schedule and daily life and priorities
Why should I do shallow retrofit?
Small changes in your home can add up to big savings. Thanks to amazing projects like Salford University’s Energy House, we can see that certain types of radiator foil can reduce the space heating gas consumption on a typical UK winter day by 2.9%. Over time and over many households, this small upgrade alone can have a huge impact on energy saving. Now imagine how beneficial it is to take care of all those small sources of heat loss.
Shallow retrofit can help to make almost instant improvements to the comfort around your house, and inspire you on to tackling other jobs large and small.
What about deep retrofit?
Deep retrofit refers to more major works and overhauling of homes to reach up to 60% of energy reduction.
Shallow vs deep retrofit is not a ‘one or the other’ matter, they can complement each other wonderfully for the best possible outcomes in improving your home. Where deep retrofit can get you those big gains which are an essential part of meeting our global goals towards reducing emissions, shallow retrofit is your essential starting point, and something that you can keep coming back to for better optimisation no matter where you are on your journey. Shallow retrofit is for everyone, on every budget, and every stage!
If you are ready to start your retrofit journey with a CHEESE Heatview® survey, Retrofit West currently have an amazing voucher scheme where homeowners can get 70% off the cost of a survey up to £500. Find out more and get booking info here.
