Shamini and her family, who live in Haslemere have changed their lifestyle by being more conscious about their impact on the environment.

They made a decision to stop flying and haven’t got on a plane since 2008. Shamini also has worked within the sustainability industry for many years.

But that wasn’t enough and when they moved into their new property, they struggled to heat their home. They tried to cut their gas use by not using their radiators and using the log burner to heat the whole house, but it wasn’t effective.

They later realised, following a report by a Retrofit Coordinator, that it was partly down to the poorly insulated walls of their property.

They were advised to get their walls insulated on the outside of the property, as well as getting the loft insulated and getting some ventilation fitted too.

“It was a big eye opener for me," Shamini says.

"We do all have old houses and we are a country that likes to maintain what it’s got so we should be thinking about how to add to it and make it better rather than build new everywhere.

“I’m not anti-development because I know that the population has risen.

“We need more environmental communicators working with scientists so they have more of an idea of what the public should hear.”

The property now has external wall insulation and a fully insulated loft, as well as the ventilation to ensure the property is sufficiently prepared for the cold winter months.

A professional retrofit coordinator carries out an independent, impartial assessment looking at the energy efficiency of your home. They take that assessment and produce a plan of the changes that you could make to you home to reduce your energy bills, increase your comfort levels and reduce your carbon footprint. Recommendations will vary from house to house but will often include the following measures:

• Loft insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• Double glazing
• Ventilation
• Solar panels to generate renewable energy on the roof
• Changing a gas or oil heating system for a low carbon heat system such as a heat pump

Critically the plan gives you a whole house view and is independent, giving you the confidence to engage with installers when it is right for you. PeCAN can provide a list of qualified Retrofit Coordinators and installers that operate in the local area for you to engage with.

Click to watch Shamini's story

To find out more, contact us.