Energy efficiency, decarbonisation, renewables, community energy… there’s a lot involved in retrofitting. Honestly, sometimes you’ll have a question that we just don’t know the answer to. Not a problem – none of us are doing this alone. We’re very happy to signpost you to the various experts out there, each of them passionate about helping the rest of us bring about change. Here’s a (very incomplete) list of organisations in the field of retrofitting and decarbonisation that you can refer and reach out to. Remember to also check out their members and partners.
Expert Organisations: Retrofitting
C40 Knowledge Hub
Part of C40 Cities, there is a wealth of information and guidance on their expansive database. There’s an entire section dedicated to retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency, and details on energy refurbishments for residential and commercial properties, as well as policy and framework.
Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA)
The CNCA is an international partnership of 22 cities with the most ambitious CO2 commitments of any urban space on the planet: aiming to be carbon neutral before 2030 and carbon positive by 2050. The organisation offers leadership training, funding for innovative solutions to the carbon crisis, and aims to develop, implement, share, and learn from policies that tackle it head-on.
Community Energy England
A not-for-profit organisation advocating for policy change in favour of a new energy model: community energy. They are the experts in “helping community energy organisations create and implement new projects”, as well as “providing opportunities for community energy practitioners to connect, learn, share business models and help each other overcome obstacles”.
Energiesprong
You don’t have to look far before seeing the name Energiesprong in relation to successful retrofitting programmes. Their modular prefabricated roofs and facades have revolutionised the speed at which energy retrofits can be implemented.
European Commission
The EC is an expert on building energy efficiency. Pulling together international policy, projects, performance standards, measurement tools, strategies, and financing models, the Commission has just about every retrofitting know-how string to its bow. You can also link to countless projects that explore every element the wonderful world of retrofitting has to offer.
Green Climate Fund
A coalition of 194 governments committed to reducing GHGs in developing countries by “investing in low-emission and climate-resilient development”. The built environment and energy are primary targets for their ambitious programmes that range from influencing policymaking to technological investment and generating private finance to foster innovative solutions.
International Energy Agency
IEA is a lead player in the fight to meet climate change goals. As well as data, training, and partnership engagement, the IEA has one eye firmly on energy efficiency, including supporting governments with “developing, implementing and measuring the impacts of policies”. Naturally, the role of buildings features heavily.
Renovate Europe
Motivated to accelerate “the rate of renovation” and mitigate the energy demand in Europe, this organisation is an expert in communication. The brainchild of EuroACE, the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, it coordinates EU-wide campaigns to improve investment, political discourse, and commitment around decarbonising building stock.
World Green Building Council
The WorldGBC wants businesses and cities to ensure their building stock runs operationally to net zero carbon emissions by 2030. They bring together many regional councils, all of whom are busy making our buildings more sustainable. Aside from reports and projects, they offer events, facilitate partnerships, and run campaigns. See their map for a GBC in your part of the world.