housing Archives - Property Revolutions Limited

25 Sep 2026

The ‘Great Home Upgrade’: Why local control will boost Net Zero

2026, affordable warmth, air quality, Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP), bio-based cladding, bio-insulation, Carl Dodd, circular economy, damp, decarbonisation, draught-proofing, embodied carbon, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, Environment, great home upgrade, green sector, heat pumps, housing, hybrid heat pumps, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, natural insulation, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, RICS, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, upfront carbon, ventilation, warm homes plan

The changing landscape For years, the biggest roadblock to decarbonising the UK's draughty housing stock hasn't been a lack of technology or ambition - it has been due to the bottleneck of centralised bureaucracy. Grand schemes designed in the corridors of Whitehall rarely translate perfectly to a 1920s solid-wall terrace in Cambridge, an estate in Manchester, or a listed stone cottage in the West of England. But the landscape of home energy efficiency just experienced a seismic shift. Warm Homes Plan vs. Great Home Upgrade Rt Hon Miatta Fahnbulleh, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, officially announced…

11 Sep 2026

By Carl Dodd

From scorched lawns to flash floods: how to prepare for extreme weather

2026, air con, air quality, Carl Dodd, climate resilience, climate whips, Droughts, extreme heat, Floods, Heatwave, housing, humidity, lifestyle transformation, loft insulation, low impact, low carbon living, Lüften, natural insulation, new homes, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., rainwater harvesting, Retrofit PRL, shading, sheep's wool, sustainability, sustainable living, ventilation, water neutrality, weatherproof

Record breaking weather The British summer of 2026 was officially the hottest on record. For months, successive heatwaves baked our soil, drying out lawns and pushing over 70% of England and all of Wales into official drought conditions. Yet, overnight, the weather has flipped. Torrential rain and thunderstorms have triggered widespread flash flooding, exposing a stark reality: our homes and gardens are entirely unprepared for these rapid weather switches. The primary challenge for UK properties is that our infrastructure was built to retain heat and slowly shed gentle rain. It is not designed to handle a sudden shift from a…

28 Aug 2026

By Carl Dodd

Beyond the battery: what the UK’s 100-hour Energy Challenge means for your home

2026, affordable warmth, Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP), Carl Dodd, damp, decarbonisation, draught-proofing, embodied carbon, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, EV, floor insulation, green sector, heat pumps, housing, hybrid heat pumps, loft insulation, low impact, low carbon living, macro grid, natural insulation, Net Zero Carbon, new homes, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, solar and battery, solar array, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, Ultra-LDES, underfloor heating, upfront carbon, wind power, wind turbine

The Ultra-LDES Challenge The UK Government has launched the £28 million Ultra-Long Duration Energy Storage Challenge. The goal is to develop technologies capable of storing clean wind and solar energy for 100 hours or more (at least four days). This initiative aims to eradicate the UK's reliance on expensive gas-fired generation during "dunkelflaute" periods (no wind, no sun). For domestic retrofits, this grid-level evolution completely shifts how we plan home solar array sizing, domestic battery capacity, and smart energy tariffs. The 100-hour horizon: decarbonising the gaps The official government announcement of the Challenge marks a pivotal moment in the UK's transition…

14 Aug 2026

By Carl Dodd

Reducing upfront (embodied) carbon in UK retrofits and new builds

2026, affordable warmth, air quality, Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP), bio-based cladding, bio-insulation, Carl Dodd, circular economy, damp, decarbonisation, draught-proofing, ecosystem, embodied carbon, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, floor insulation, GGBS, greenwashing, heat pumps, hemp insulation, housing, hybrid heat pumps, low impact, low carbon living, natural insulation, Net Zero Carbon, new homes, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, RICS, sheep's wool, sustainability, sustainable living, underfloor heating, upfront carbon, WheatEx, wood fibre

The Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia (UEA) The UK built environment is at a critical turning point For decades, the construction industry focused almost entirely on operational carbon - the energy used to heat, light, and power a building once occupied. However, as the UK grid decarbonises and heat pumps replace gas boilers, the focus must shift. Today, the immediate threat comes from upfront carbon, which is the greenhouse gas footprint generated before a property is even handed over to the occupier. For PRL, property owners, developers, and other retrofit professionals, tackling this initial carbon spike is…

24 Jul 2026

By Carl Dodd

Why installing both solar & battery is the smartest move

2026, Carl Dodd, electric vehicle, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, EV, housing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, Net Zero Carbon, new homes, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, solar and battery, solar array, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants

The PRL guide to solar & battery storage The UK property sector is undergoing a quiet revolution. Whether you are a homeowner watching your monthly outgoings or a landlord aiming to future-proof an investment property, managing energy costs has become a top priority. If you do not yet have solar panels installed, you are actually in an envious position, as you have a completely clean slate. While early adopters were forced to install solar panels as a standalone technology, the engineering landscape has evolved. Today, installing solar photovoltaics (PV) without a home battery storage system is seen as a job…

03 Jul 2026

By Carl Dodd

Fans vs portable air con: what’s best for your home?

2026, air con, air conditioner, air pollution, air quality, Carl Dodd, energy efficiency, extreme heat, fans, Heatwave, housing, humidity, lifestyle transformation, loft insulation, low impact, low carbon living, mould, new homes, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., Retrofit PRL, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, ventilation

Choosing the right options Summer heat is no longer a rare visitor in the UK, and for homeowners and those who rent, deciding how to stay cool is becoming just as important as insulation or heating efficiency. Two of the most popular options are fans and portable air conditioners - but which one is right for your home? In this Blog, we break down the key differences, so you can choose the cooling solution that fits your space, budget, and comfort needs. Article: Can air con be green? Fans: moving air, but not cooling it A fan doesn't lower the temperature…

19 Jun 2026

By Carl Dodd

20 tips to help beat the heatwaves this summer

2026, air quality, Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP), Carl Dodd, climate resilience, climate whips, draught-proofing, floor insulation, heat pumps, Heatwave, housing, humidity, hybrid heat pumps, lifestyle transformation, loft insulation, low impact, low carbon living, new homes, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., Retrofit PRL, shading, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, underfloor heating, Urban Heat Island, ventilation, weatherproof

Keeping healthy - no matter the weather As summer temperatures soar across the UK, keeping your property comfortable is becoming a major priority. As climate change continues to drive record-breaking summers and extreme heat warnings, the way we think about our homes is undergoing a massive shift. Historically, British homes were built to trap heat and keep out the bitter winter cold. However, in recent times, an uncomfortably hot house is no longer just a minor annoyance; it can be a serious health hazard. At PRL, we know that true energy efficiency is about year-round comfort. A well-retrofitted home is…

05 Jun 2026

By Carl Dodd

PRL’s comprehensive guide to setting retrofit priorities

2026, affordable warmth, air pollution, air quality, Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP), bio-insulation, Carl Dodd, damp, draught-proofing, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, floor insulation, heat pumps, Heatwave, hemp insulation, housing, humidity, hybrid heat pumps, loft insulation, low impact, low carbon living, mould, natural insulation, Net Zero Carbon, new homes, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, shading, sheep's wool, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, tiny homes, underfloor heating, warm homes plan, weatherproof

Getting the balance right With the UK's commitment to reach Net Zero, retrofitting your home has never been more vital. This Blog explores the essential factors to consider when setting your retrofit priorities. You will need to balance energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact, to create a 'cool in summer/ warm in winter', more sustainable, and future-proof home. The retrofit imperative for UK householders The UK housing stock is famously characterful, yet equally notorious for its age and energy inefficiency. With millions of homes requiring substantial upgrades before the government's Net Zero targets, retrofitting can adapt a property to improve its…

22 May 2026

By Carl Dodd

EPC and the Renters’ Rights Act: putting retrofit in the picture

2026, affordable warmth, air quality, Carl Dodd, damp, decarbonisation, draught-proofing, emissions, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, floor insulation, green sector, heat pumps, hemp insulation, housing, humidity, loft insulation, low impact, low carbon living, mould, natural insulation, Net Zero Carbon, new homes, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., reduce carbon footprint, Retrofit PRL, shading, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, tiny homes, tiny houses, Urban Heat Island, warm homes plan, wood fibre

How the Renters' Rights Act and Net Zero Targets threaten older housing stock The UK private rented sector (PRS) stands at a crossroads. This month, the dual pressures of imminent legislative reform and national decarbonisation targets converged to create unprecedented anxiety for landlords - and tenants. At the heart of this shifting landscape is a widening structural chasm. On one side sits a modern, highly efficient tier of rental properties, largely compliant with evolving standards, and cheap to run. On the other lies a vast, aging portfolio of pre-war, solid-wall housing stock that risks becoming legally unlettable or financially unviable.…

08 May 2026

By Carl Dodd

Bridging the gap between heritage and Net Zero

2026, air pollution, air quality, Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP), biodiversity, Carl Dodd, damp, draught-proofing, energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, floor insulation, green sector, heat pumps, hemp insulation, housing, lifestyle transformation, low impact, low carbon living, mould, natural insulation, Net Zero Carbon, PRL, Property Revolutions Ltd., Retrofit PRL, solar panel, sustainability, sustainable living, tenants, tiny homes, underfloor heating, warm homes plan

Retrofitting rural homes in 2026 As we move through 2026, the UK's journey towards Net Zero has reached a pivotal juncture. While urban high-rises and suburban estates often dominate the conversation, the real frontline of the energy transition is found in the rolling hills and quiet villages of the British countryside. Retrofitting rural homes is no longer a niche environmental ambition; it is an urgent economic and social imperative. 80% of the buildings we will use in 2050 are already standing today. This means that the challenge is clear: we cannot build our way to sustainability - we must upgrade…