 “We’re trusted. We’re here. We can train local people. With investment, we can do this right." As England looks to tackle climate change and make homes warmer and more affordable to run, there’s a growing spotlight on something called retrofit. While the word might sound technical, it’s really about improving buildings – mostly homes – so they use less energy. This could mean anything from better insulation and windows to more efficient heating systems. But who’s actually doing this work? Until recently, retrofitting has mostly been the domain of large contractors or small businesses. However, a new report from the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) shows that charities and social enterprises like CREW Energy – non-profit organisations that work for the good of communities – are quietly stepping up. And they may just hold the key to a fairer, greener future. The challenge we’re facingEngland has around 27 million homes that need to be upgraded to meet climate goals. Many of these homes are cold, inefficient, and expensive to heat. Making them more energy-efficient doesn’t just help reduce carbon emissions – it also cuts fuel bills, improves health, and creates local jobs. Despite the urgency, past government schemes to support retrofitting have been criticised for being short-term, narrowly focused, and not always delivering good results. And for many households – especially those struggling with energy costs – navigating these schemes can be confusing or feel out of reach. That’s where non-profits come in. A new but growing forceThe non-profit retrofit sector is still in its early days. Many organisations are just starting out, often growing from other kinds of community support work, such as offering energy advice or helping households in need. But things are changing. From 2022 to 2024, the number of community energy groups getting involved in retrofit grew by nearly 13%. These groups – ranging from small volunteer-led teams to organisations with dozens of staff – bring a unique set of strengths. We’re trusted. We know our local areas. And we genuinely care about the people we’re helping. What motivates us?Non-profits are driven by more than just cutting carbon. We’re motivated by social justice – helping people in cold or poor-quality housing, reducing energy debt, and building stronger, more resilient communities. Some focus on delivering the retrofit work themselves, offering what’s known as a 'one-stop-shop' where they guide households through the whole process. Others, like us, act more like connectors—starting with a home energy assessment, then signposting people to trusted services, or supporting local authorities to design better schemes. We often start small, but with the right support, many could scale up and have a much bigger impact. Creative, community-focused approachesOne of the standout features of this sector is its creativity. From community training programmes to open-source software tools that support retrofit planning, these organisations are finding smart ways to make retrofit accessible. Some take a street-by-street approach, like our friends at Onezero, organising retrofit schemes at a neighbourhood level to bring people together and make projects more efficient. We most recently worked with them on a street in Earlsfield, with the first installs of solar and batteries being completed in early 2025. Others retrofit non-domestic buildings like community centres, churches, schools and more – as we have been doing in London since 2016! In 2024/25, our community retrofit projects saved 563,415 kWh of power and 127 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. You can find examples of these on our projects page. Other examples from across the country include:
What's holding us back?Despite our potential, non-profits face real barriers. We rely heavily on grant funding and often don’t have the long-term core funding required to grow. The CSE report lays out several key recommendations to help groups like ours thrive, including:
Why this mattersAt the heart of all this is the belief that retrofitting shouldn’t just be about hitting carbon targets. It should be about people – especially those who stand to benefit the most from warmer homes and lower bills. Non-profits, with their deep local roots and community-first mindset, are uniquely placed to make this happen. As one organisation put it: “We’re trusted. We’re here. We can train local people. With investment, we can do this right.” By supporting this growing movement, we stand a chance not only of tackling the climate crisis but of doing it in a way that builds fairer, stronger communities. And that’s a future worth investing in. To find out more about retrofitting your home or civi building, or to book a home energy assessment, click below.
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