Improving home energy efficiency - retrofit assessment review: policy report

Footnotes

1. See: STBA Guidance Wheel - STBA

2. It is worth noting that SAP, RdSAP and PHPP conform to the same BS EN Standard for calculation of energy use for space heating and cooling.

3. Wärme Und Feuchte Instationär, a hygrothermal simulation software evaluating heat and moisture transfer through building components.

4. Current Retrofit Assessor qualification under PAS2035 route can be as little as 10-hour CPD course beyond a Level 3 qualification in Domestic Energy Assessment.

5. Available at: Responsible Retrofit Guidance Tool

6. See ‘The Roles and Requirements of a Retrofit Coordinator’ under Objective 3. There was a lot of discussion and feedback from stakeholders as to the exact definition and scope of the role(s) of a Retrofit Coordinator. As a result, we have broken this umbrella term down in a way that is intended to provide greater clarity to the Scottish Government, stakeholders, delivery bodies, and consumers.

7. Available at: HEE - NHS - Person Centred Care

8. See: Theory — EdinBRIC

9. Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) – process of demonstrating knowledge and skills through work related experience, towards a formally recognised qualification.

10. Note: Whilst we are explicitly not commenting on the practices of any quality assurance schemes, it would be remiss not to note that we were made aware of a statement made to the House of Commons by Miatta Fahnbulleh, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, on 23rd January 2025 (just as the final draft of this report was being sent for peer-review). Ms Fahnbulleh reported that ~65,000 households have received substandard solid wall insulation installations from TrustMark registered installers. These installations were funded by the Energy Company Obligation. As a result of an investigation by TrustMark and further investigations by the DESNZ, 39 businesses have been suspended from installing new solid wall insulation in peoples’ homes as part of any government-funded schemes. At present this only applies to solid wall insulation installs. Ofgem are following up the findings with affected householders and conducting further investigations. We strong urge the Scottish Government to engage with the DESNZ and Ofgem as these investigations continue. We also strongly recommend that the Scottish Government commissions its own review into the number of substandard insulation installs in Scotland. Sources: IndoorAirAware / House of Commons / BBC.