Our Managing Director, Russell Smith, recently appeared as a guest speaker on the Social Housing Retrofit Accelerator (SHRA) podcast.  He joins Fallon Warren from Orbit Group and Turner & Townsend’s Associate Director of  Sustainability, Sarah Daly. Together, they demystify the significance of PAS 2035 – the quality standard for energy efficiency in government-funded retrofit projects.

Listen using the link below or sign up to the SHRA to gain access to a wealth of resources.

Under PAS 2035, a retrofit coordinator will identify the property’s specific needs, manage risk, and ensure that works are carried out by competent professionals. It also promotes a whole house approach and quality assurance throughout the project.

Whole House Plans are best practice in retrofit to avoid installing measures that are not compatible with the delivery of full decarbonisation. They can take time to prepare manually due to the options available, and the need to consider the relationship between them.

If you are a Retrofit Coordinator, our Surveyor Pro software does this work for you. It can help you generate detailed Medium Term Improvement Plans as part of a whole house plan, and test the likely costs and benefits for your clients and the end customer.

The Benefit of Whole House Plans for Retrofit

Under PAS 2035, a whole house plan is a comprehensive strategy that takes into account the entire dwelling, addressing various building elements and their interactions to achieve the best possible energy performance and overall outcomes.

The key aspects of whole house plans under PAS 2035 are:

1. Comprehensive Assessment: Whole house plans start with an assessment of the existing property, considering its condition, construction, and energy performance. This assessment provides a baseline understanding of the building’s characteristics. Tools like Parity Projects’ Portfolio and Surveyor Pro help identify areas that require improvement.
2. Holistic Approach: Rather than focusing on individual retrofit measures in isolation, whole house plans emphasize a holistic approach. They consider how different improvements, such as insulation, heating systems, and ventilation, interact with each other to optimize the overall performance of the dwelling. Surveyor Pro significantly reduces the time required to optimize the package of measures, reporting on the costs and benefits of individually and cumulatively.
3. Prioritization: The plan prioritizes retrofit measures based on their potential impact on energy efficiency and occupant well-being. It takes into account factors like cost-effectiveness, carbon reduction, and the comfort of residents. Retrofit Coordinators can phase works in Surveyor Pro in line with that prioritization.
4. Risk Assessment: Whole house plans include a risk assessment to identify potential issues and challenges for each project. This proactive approach helps mitigate risks and ensures that the project proceeds smoothly.
5. Quality Assurance: PAS 2035 places a strong emphasis on quality assurance throughout the retrofit process. Government, landlords and tenants need to see the promised savings delivered.

By adhering to PAS 2035, retrofit projects aim to enhance the sustainability of housing stock, reduce carbon emissions, and provide more comfortable and cost-effective homes for residents. It has been a significant step to ensure taxpayer funds deliver the Government’s intended policy outcomes.