About Our Practice
Building expertise in home energy efficiency since 2012
From Building Physics to Practical Solutions
We started with a simple observation: most homeowners wanted to improve their home's energy efficiency but struggled to find trustworthy, independent advice. The market was dominated by companies selling specific products—heat pumps, insulation, solar panels—rather than holistic guidance.
Our founding team brought together backgrounds in building physics, construction, and energy consulting. We'd seen too many well-intentioned improvements fail because they addressed symptoms rather than causes, or introduced new problems like condensation and mould.
What began as a consultancy serving architects and housing associations gradually expanded to work directly with homeowners. We found that the same rigorous assessment methodology used in large-scale retrofit projects could be adapted for individual homes, giving ordinary householders access to professional-grade advice.
What Guides Our Work
Independence
We don't sell products or take commissions from installers. Our recommendations are based solely on what's right for your home and circumstances.
Technical Rigour
Proper assessment before prescription. We measure, test, and analyse rather than making assumptions about what your home needs.
Practical Focus
We understand that budgets, disruption tolerance, and timescales vary. We develop realistic plans that work for real households.
Long-term Thinking
Quick fixes often create future problems. We consider how improvements interact over decades, not just the immediate impact.
People Behind the Practice
A multidisciplinary team combining building science expertise with practical construction experience
Richard Blackwood
Founding Director
Background in building physics research. Twenty years in construction and energy consulting. Passionate about making technical knowledge accessible to homeowners.
Catherine Moore
Technical Lead
Chartered building surveyor with specialist expertise in pre-1919 properties. Leads our assessment methodology and training programmes.
Ahmed Hassan
Senior Retrofit Coordinator
Former construction manager who switched to retrofit coordination. Expert in managing complex multi-trade improvement projects with minimal household disruption.
Emma Thornton
Grant Specialist
Navigates the complex landscape of available funding. Has helped clients secure over £2 million in grants and schemes since joining the team.
David Liu
Energy Assessor
Level 5 domestic energy assessor qualified in thermal imaging and airtightness testing. Conducts our detailed home surveys across England and Wales.
Fiona Campbell
Scotland Operations
Based in Edinburgh, leads our work in Scotland including coordination with Home Energy Scotland and Scottish Government programmes.
Key Milestones
From a small consultancy to a nationwide retrofit advisory service, our growth has been driven by genuine demand for independent expertise.
Foundation
Established as a building physics consultancy serving architects and housing associations.
Homeowner Services
Launched direct-to-homeowner assessment services in response to demand from private clients.
Scotland Expansion
Opened Edinburgh office to serve Scottish homeowners with region-specific expertise.
PAS 2035 Accreditation
Among first practices to achieve full PAS 2035 compliance for domestic retrofit coordination.
2,000th Assessment
Completed our 2,000th home energy assessment, covering properties across the UK.
The Benefits of Expert Guidance
Avoid Costly Mistakes
The average homeowner wastes £4,000 on ineffective improvements before seeking professional advice. Proper assessment identifies the real priorities and the right sequence for work.
Maximise Grant Funding
We identify all applicable schemes and handle the application process. Clients typically secure 20-40% of their project costs through available programmes.
Quality Assurance
We verify installer credentials, review specifications, and inspect completed work. Our oversight catches issues that could compromise performance or cause problems later.
Property Value Protection
Well-documented improvements with proper compliance records maintain and enhance property value. Poorly executed retrofits can reduce saleability.
Accreditations & Memberships
TrustMark
Government-endorsed quality scheme for tradespeople and businesses in the home improvement sector.
PAS 2035 Registered
Qualified retrofit coordinators operating to the national standard for whole-house retrofit.
RICS Regulated Firm
Professional indemnity insurance and adherence to Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors standards.
AECB Member
Part of the network promoting sustainable building and retrofit excellence.
Retrofit Academy
Trained and certified through the leading retrofit education programme.
ATTMA Registered
Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association certified for airtightness testing.
Let's Discuss Your Home
Every retrofit journey starts with a conversation. Tell us about your property and what you hope to achieve.
Get in Touch