Retrofit your community building: A community action plan

Download this community action plan to retrofit your community building into a space that’s affordable, comfortable and sustainable.

What is retrofitting?

Retrofitting means making changes to something that has already been constructed or manufactured. Retrofitting a building means adding new features (such as new windows) or systems (such as solar panels) to make it more efficient to run.

This action plan, full of advice from our climate partners the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), will help you to:

• understand how to make your community building more energy-efficient
• reduce energy wastage (and costs)
• better understand your building
• work with tradespeople.

It also includes tips from Par Bay Big Local and Marsh and Micklefield Big Local who have retrofitted their community buildings to make them more energy-efficient.

Download the action plan >

How Marsh and Micklefield Big Local retrofitted their community building

One of Marsh and Micklefield Big Local’s priorities was to improve the energy-efficiency of community buildings in the area, to reduce their environmental impact and ensure they remain well-used community assets for decades to come.

Partnership member Jean approached CSE to help improve the community centre, which was built in 1989. It was often difficult and expensive to heat, and users complained of it being cold. CSE worked with Jean and other partnership members to develop an action plan to retrofit it:

1. The first step was to walk-around the building and do an audit. Jean, along with two volunteers, Ian and Vanessa, recorded key issues that needed tackling.
2. Ian got into the loft space and took photos of the loft insulation to assess what the coverage was like, and whether there was sufficient ventilation (this is often an issue, as without this you can end up with damp and decay of roof beams).
3. Jean then produced a report, highlighting the key issues. Based on Jean’s report, the Big
   Local partnership agreed they would provide financial support for making energy efficiency improvements to the building.

I see this as a real step forward in investing in our community buildings, not just for current and future residents, but also the environment.”

Jean Peasley, Marsh and Micklefield Big Local partnership member

Download the action plan now >