Explore key insights from UKGBC’s Non-Domestic Retrofit forum.

If the most sustainable building is one that already exists, they why is retrofitting a building still so challenging?

This is the central question that the UKGBC Non-Domestic Retrofit Forum has sought to answer through a series of meetings and workshops over the last nine months.

The Forum comprised practitioners across the built environment value chain, from those who design and consult, those who construct and deliver, and those who manage and occupy buildings. Building on the UKGBC report “Building the Case for Net Zero: Retrofitting Office Buildings”, we have reflected on common challenges faced by the sector when delivering retrofit of non-domestic buildings, and identified solutions that can be scaled or shared to accelerate uptake.

The purpose of retrofitting a building is, in essence, to upgrade it to meet current or preferably future standards, to futureproof operations and to enhance its long-term value. A successful retrofit strategy considers not only the current conditions of the building (e.g. occupant needs, building defects) but also exposure to future climate risks, regulatory requirements, and changes to energy infrastructure. As a result, the process often requires deep technical expertise from a wide range of disciplines as well as buy-in from different stakeholder groups from an early stage.

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