Delivering a discounted, forensic home energy assessment to trace exactly where a chronically cold house was losing its heat.
Project Overview
- Client: David Butler (Homeowner)
- Sector: Private Residential
- Location: Bristol
- Services Provided: Home Energy Efficiency Assessment (via Retrofit West Voucher Scheme) – Air Tightness Testing, Thermal Imaging Survey, Ventilation Review
- Scale: Single mid-20th-century semi-detached home
- Target: Identify priority fabric and ventilation improvements to reduce heat loss and running costs
The Challenge
Like many mid-20th-century semi-detached houses in Bristol, David’s home struggled to hold onto heat despite having double glazing and some loft insulation. On cold days, the central heating had to run constantly just to reach a barely comfortable 17-18°C. David wanted to bring his energy bills down, but had no way of knowing where the problem actually was – the walls, the roof, or somewhere else entirely.
The Solution
Using a Retrofit West voucher, David secured a comprehensive three-part investigation into where his heat was escaping. A blower door air tightness test measured just how leaky the building fabric was, while a thermal imaging survey used infrared cameras to reveal invisible cold spots across the building envelope – cold corners, thermal bridges, and areas where insulation had gone missing or slumped out of place. Alongside this, a ventilation review checked the property against Part F (building regulations ventilation standards), flagging where a lack of trickle vents and underperforming extract fans could create a condensation and mould risk once draught-proofing works went ahead. Together, the three surveys turned a vague sense that “the house feels cold” into a specific, evidenced picture of exactly where and why.
The Outcome
David came away with a clear, prioritised roadmap rather than a guess. Some fixes were immediate and low-cost – sealing skirting boards, capping an open chimney flue, sealing gaps behind kitchen cabinets that were acting as a cold air intake. Others were flagged as longer-term strategic investments, like internal wall insulation to address the thermal bridging the survey had uncovered, and additional trickle vents to keep airflow healthy once the house was tightened up. Rather than spending on guesswork, David now has a budget-ready plan that tackles the highest-impact issues first.
Client Testimonial
My house is drafty and hard to heat, it is difficult to get it above 17-18 degrees on cold days even if the central heating has been on for quite awhile. The team at Building Energy Experts were very professional, explained what they were doing as they went along.
The assessment was very useful, they have identified areas of air leakage etc and quick wins I can make. It has helped me prioritise my budget. I would definitely recommend using Building Energy Experts.
— David Butler, Bristol Homeowner
Living in Bristol, Bath or South Gloucestershire?
If you’re seeing similar signs in your own home – rooms that never quite warm up, high heating bills or draughts you can’t pin down – a Retrofit West voucher can cover the large majority of the cost of a home energy assessment like David’s, funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Rather than guessing where your heat is going, let us show you.
Find your current voucher eligibility and apply via Retrofit West
