New research from the Building Services Research and Intelligence Association (BSRIA), highlights a significant confidence gap between construction professionals and the general public regarding the effectiveness of building retrofits.

BSRIA commissioned a study of 2,000 UK homeowners and tenants to investigate the factors holding back home energy efficiency. It also polled 500 construction professionals to understand the industry’s understanding of retrofit approaches.

The study reveals that while four out of five construction professionals (80%) feel optimistic about the long-term performance of current retrofit solutions, only a fifth of UK consumers believe that retrofitting homes makes a difference in achieving net-zero targets.

A retrofit, defined as modifying existing buildings with energy efficiency measures and low carbon technology to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, is widely recognised within the construction industry as essential for meeting the UK's legally binding climate targets. BSRIA data shows that only a fifth of Brits live in an energy-efficient home.

However, the research highlights a critical awareness gap among the public, with 55% of UK consumers not clear about what a building retrofit is.

The study also uncovered concerning trends in how retrofit performance is validated within the construction industry:

• Half of construction (51%) professionals rely solely on self-certification to validate  retrofit performance

• Only four in 10 (43%) use independent physical measurements to verify results

• Just a third (32%) conduct post-occupancy evaluation surveys to gather feedback over time

Construction professionals who use independent testing methods reported significantly higher confidence levels in retrofit outcomes. Architects (46%) and engineers (44%) who employ physical measurements showed above-average confidence in retrofit performance.

Tom Garrigan, BSRIA Director – Applied Engineering, commented: 'These findings highlight a disconnect between industry confidence and public understanding of retrofitting, which is often overshadowed by concerns about cost. While construction professionals largely believe in the effectiveness of current approaches, we're clearly failing to explain the benefits of retrofitting our homes.

'What's particularly striking is the correlation between independent testing and confidence levels. Professionals who go beyond self-certification to employ rigorous, independent validation methods consistently demonstrate greater faith in retrofit outcomes. This underscores the importance of robust testing and post-occupancy evaluation in ensuring performance and building the evidence base needed to convince a sceptical public.'

The research comes as the UK grapples with having Europe's oldest and least efficient housing stock, with one in five UK homes lacking adequate insulation. Additional BSRIA findings revealed only 6% of Britons know their home's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, while just 17% are aware of options to boost home energy efficiency.

Garrigan added: 'With the government's ambitious net-zero targets, retrofitting our existing building stock is non-negotiable. However, to achieve widespread adoption, we must address both the knowledge gap among consumers and the validation gap within our industry. Independent testing isn't just good practice; it's essential for building the trust needed to accelerate retrofit uptake across the UK.'

BSRIA is actively addressing these challenges through its own retrofit initiatives, including upgrading its office spaces to showcase how existing buildings can be improved for greater efficiency.