Assessing the impact of a differentiated retrofit approach in UK domestic buildings

Abstract

Conventionally, publicly accessible retrofit recommendations use calculations based on standardised occupant behaviour. However, studies have shown that occupant behaviour can have a significant impact on energy consumption and subsequent retrofit savings. This paper assesses the impact of a differentiated retrofit approach using household archetypes grouped according to similar behavioural patterns, dwelling and household characteristics. The results showed that distinguishing between different household groups can significantly improve overall retrofit effectiveness. The ambition is to enable better home retrofits for a sustainable housing stock, while meeting the UK Government's goal of carbon emissions reduction.