The United Kingdom has a rich and long history. This is reflected in our buildings. Whether you’re walking through big cities or small villages you can see the history in so many of our shopfronts, schools and homes. However, along with character and charm, these buildings also bring their own set of challenges. When it comes to energy efficiency, they are often as archaic as they look. They are in desperate need of upgrades, without sacrificing their character. The purpose of the Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings qualification is to equip professionals to do just that.
The Challenge: Improving Traditional Buildings in England
An old building presents a unique set of challenges for any retrofit professional. Their goal extends beyond energy upgrades — it’s about preserving history. Did you know that approximately 25% of the UK housing stock is considered traditional? These buildings embody history, character, and architectural design, yet they often struggle with energy inefficiency. The task for retrofit professionals becomes twofold: to improve the energy efficiency of these homes through carefully designed upgrades while preserving their historical integrity. These upgrades not only make the home cheaper to run, reducing emissions, but also benefit both the homeowner and, ultimately, the country as a whole. However, when it comes to older buildings, there are further concerns.
Protecting the Character
As a nation, the United Kingdom is proud of its historic buildings. There are entire organisations set up solely for the protection and preservation of our older and traditional dwellings. This same dedication should also apply to our historic homes. Beautiful Georgian and Victorian buildings bring character to a town that can become immensely important to the locals. A Retrofit Coordinator is tasked with improving these dwellings without sacrificing the character of the beloved buildings. The Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings qualification is carefully designed to give learners the tools they need to do their job while still protecting the significance of the buildings they are improving.
Improving the Efficiency, Despite Challenges
Along with the challenge of protecting the character, retrofit professionals dealing with older buildings do another important job. They work with the building, not against it. In an older building, certain challenges may arise which prevent the use of traditional techniques. For instance, traditional wall construction methods require specific breathable types of insulation. This means that they have to think outside of the box to upgrade the building in a safe and effective way. Each project is an exciting new challenge, bringing its own new set of problems to be solved!
The Solution: The Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings
Despite all of these considerations, retrofit professionals are out there every day making a difference, pushing the UK towards a more efficient and sustainable future. They are able to do so because of courses like this one.
The ABBE Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings qualification has been developed to raise awareness of older, traditional and vulnerable buildings (e.g. buildings built prior to 1919). It teaches you how to approach these projects in the right way, guiding you to make good decisions which benefit both the building and the homeowner.
If you are a retrofit professional, please consider taking our Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings course. Equip yourself to do the best job you can, and move our country towards its energy goals with each and every project.
Energy Trust has recently been awarded funding to offer this course at a highly discounted price so there’s never been a better time to book your space! Please click below to book your space today.
