This Innovate UK project used Humanity-Centred Design to reimagine retrofit reports and create a more engaging, streamlined and convenient product for consumers to encourage increased adoption of energy efficiency measures and clean heating systems. The enhanced Net-Zero Buildings tool aims to bridge the gap between retrofit reporting, funding providers, and local installers through a “One-Stop Shop” approach.
Overview
The UK has some of the oldest and least insulated homes in Europe, with an urgent need to deliver domestic retrofit at scale to meet climate goals and reduce fuel poverty. While digital tools can make the retrofit process easier for consumers, existing options often produce reports with inaccessible language that fail to engage users. This project builds on City Science’s existing Retrofit Recommendations tool to optimise communication and increase engagement through consumer surveys and focus groups trials of different messaging strategies.
This included:
- Consumer needs research via focus groups and surveys to understand key drivers and blockers in the retrofit process
- User interface design to create concise, engaging, interactive reporting outputs
- Development of a commercialisation plan to bring the enhanced tool to market
Outcomes
- An improved concept for our Retrofit Recommendations tool with a user-centric design and interactive, personalised reports. The consumer insights directly informed the tool’s design, resulting in more user-friendly interfaces and clearer communication of benefits.
- Deeper understanding of effective communication strategies to motivate homeowners to pursue retrofits
- A product positioned to accelerate domestic retrofit adoption and clean heat deployment across the UK
Figure 1: Home Efficiency Plan Builder page design within the wider Home Efficiency Hub tool