Retrofitting should be an holistic process and, for this to happen, it’s essential to know the eventual goal and have a plan or ‘roadmap’. This will enable the most appropriate measures to be selected and their interrelationship with one another to be better understood, even if they’re introduced over an extended period of time as funds and opportunities present themselves. If planning is inadequate, conflicts may occur and work might have to be undone to accommodate future phases of work or to rectify problems. This practical and essential guideto retrofitting for energy efficiency seeks to provide answers to this and other the questions homeowners of old houses are asking. Whether your house is medieval and timber-framedor a Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian terrace, it can be made more energy efficient and sustainable, and this practical and comprehensive handbook will show you how. The Old House Eco Course was excellent - thanks to all who contributed. It was very interesting" - Builder Roger says it's a complex subject as we have to embrace the value of the building in terms of beauty, aesthetics and our love for them, along with the monetary value. Take time to understand your building

I’m passionate about trying to make buildings sustainable and cut our carbon but at the same time we’ve got to have places that are accessible, enjoyable and important to people.”Drafts actually make you feel colder than the building really is, so introducing secondary glazing or draft proofing around windows can make a big difference to comfort levels.

Now in its second edition, Old House Eco Handbook, A Practical Guide To Retrofitting For Energy-Efficiency and Sustainability by Roger Hunt and Marianne Suhr, with a foreword by Kevin McCloud, is published by White Lion Publishing in association with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. It is a companion to the authors’ bestselling Old House Handbook. “Three green cheers for this book, which mixes an erudite analysis of the latest building science with practical advice and demonstrations of best practice.” Kevin McCloud, author, broadcaster and designer Before even thinking about how to heat or light the home, you should be thinking about a fabric first approach of how to insulate, cut drafts, and increase daylight. From there you could incorporate solar arrays or air and ground source heat pumps. The heat pumps won't work so well if it is a leaky building, so these all need to be considered as part of the bigger project. Join the SPAB on this course to learn how to make your home - whether it is medieval and timber-framed, Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian, detached or terrace - energy efficient and low carbon without devaluing the future sustainability or character of the building.How should we go about making old houses energy efficient without devaluing future sustainability or the appeal and character of old homes by the use of inappropriate solutions? The course is relevant for those who live in, use or manage period properties (pre-1919), and is a popular introductory one-day course for professionals who may need to brief their clients on improving the energy efficiency of their homes. With opportunities to ask questions throughout the day, the course also offers an opportunity to talk over lunch and learn from fellow attendees who may be facing similar challenges. Roger recalls attending a conference not long after Old House Handbook was published where, to meet targets, it was claimed that a city the size of Coventry would need to be retrofit every week.