KISS retrofit is new philosophy based around making UK retrofit achievable, honest, appropriate, affordable and fit for the future.
For too long retrofits have been based around arbitrary targets that bear no relation to the real world. EPC ratings and the drive for carbon savings have created an industry that relies on poor decision making, the use of inappropriate materials and an obsession with an unachievable pace of change. These poor practices has been hidden behind poor assessments, box ticking systems and a focus on profits above people and property.
KISS seeks to change this by shining a light on the issues that actively stop quality workmanship and decision making. Not only this, KISS aims to embrace concepts that are not on the agenda for the mainstream retrofit industry, including: health, embodied carbon, long term maintenance, moisture, overheating and a respect for natural world.
KISS proposes an approach that is grounded in understanding risk and building pathology, based on good assessments. When combined with the idea of a ‘lowest common denominator’ and confined to use of a small palette of measures, this produces a simple set of recommendations for the successful retrofit of homes across the UK.
KISS seeks to provide some Simple solutions, focused on the most ‘difficult’ of building elements – walls. KISS clearly shows that the use of insulating lime renders and plasters is the most effective, quickest, cheapest and lowest risk solution that is available in the UK. This is especially important in areas of Very Severe wind driven rain like Wales.
There are so many reasons to work differently but it does require the industry, Government and others to take a new look at the issues around Retrofit. The built environment is not going to reach the 2050 targets in terms of achieving an 85% reduction in CO2 ,not all buildings can reach an EPC C, etc. but they can be better. We must focus on the long-term risk and ensure that the decisions we make today do not jeopardise the future of our precious built environment, after all these are our homes, our places of work and pleasure, our history and futures.