Cosy Homes Oxfordshire
A retrofit service for cosier, healthier, more energy efficient homes
Cosy Homes Oxfordshire is a home eco-retrofit project that launched in early 2019 to help make homes across Oxfordshire more energy efficient – reducing their energy demand – and at the same time improving the comfort and health of residents. It is a partnership project delivered by the Low Carbon Hub, National Energy Foundation and RetrofitWorks. Find out more about the project partners.
Cosy Homes Oxfordshire is one of a number of trial home eco-retrofit projects currently being funded by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Our trial is unique because we are working collaboratively with low carbon community groups across Oxfordshire to encourage uptake locally. In the first phase of trial we have been working with:
- Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon (RHILC)
- Local Environmental Action Florence Park (LEAF)
- Low Carbon West Oxford (LCWO)
- Hook Norton Low Carbon (HNLC)
- Low Carbon Oxford North (LCON)
- Sustainable Charlbury (SusChar)
The problem
In the UK a quarter of all our carbon emissions comes from the energy used to heat and power our homes. Improving the energy performance of our homes is a key part of the puzzle in cutting harmful carbon emissions, which will help protect our overheating planet.
Addressing energy demand reduction has been a key part of the Low Carbon Hub’s mission and we are really pleased to be leading on this project to tackle domestic energy use in the county.
The solution
Cosy Homes Oxfordshire offers a ‘one-stop shop’ home eco-retrofit service designed to support the homeowner from the beginning to the end of their eco-retrofit journey.
The process begins with a visit from a Retrofit Coordinator or DEA who assesses your home to accurately identify appropriate energy efficiency measures. You can see what a typical Cosy Homes Oxfordshire home assessment is like in the video below, filmed in Hook Norton.
These recommendations are then formulated into a tailored whole house improvement plan that documents a variety of energy efficiency measures that could be installed and ends with a high-quality home retrofit solution. Throughout the process an independent Retrofit Coordinator keeps a check on the quality of the service.
The team link homeowners with skilled practitioners and installers and take on coordination of the whole process. Trusted contractors are vetted and rigorously assessed by the RetrofitWorks team. This helps take the hassle out of what can sometimes feel like a daunting process.
Work can span from whole house eco refurbishment projects to smaller jobs such as installing insulation and fixing heating systems.
Initial changes could be made that would address damp, mould, draughts and other common issues, as well as more extensive improvements.
If you’d like to improve the energy efficiency of your home, or would just like to know more, visit the Cosy Homes Oxfordshire website.