Jennifer’s 1880s Terrace

Leicester, UK

1880s Terrace

Designing a small but sustainable home

Jennifer noticed her energy bills were higher than they should have been for a small home with just one person, and could feel a cold draught coming up through her floor. Though she’d already installed solar panels on the outside of her home, she wasn’t sure what could be done inside that was realistically achievable with an 1880s terrace. She was keen to create a more eco-friendly home, but wasn’t ready to commit without a clear picture of what was possible and the right order to tackle it, keeping the option for future projects open.

Designing a small but sustainable home

Jennifer’s home transformation

C > A

EPC

+10%

Property value estimate

£1,556

Annual bill savings

Upgrades chosen

Suspended floor insulation | Internal wall insulation

Expert advice without the pressure

After researching her options, Jennifer found that most retrofit examples were for larger homes, leaving her unsure about what would actually work for a small terrace. She looked into getting an energy survey done, but wasn't eligible for her local council's scheme, and the other companies she contacted didn't cover her area. Jennifer was enthusiastic about lowering her bills and reducing her carbon footprint, but she didn't want to feel pressured into decisions by contractors with their own agenda. She wanted to understand exactly what her home needed so she could make her own informed choices. She wasn't short of enthusiasm or intent, but needed expert advice she could trust.

Expert advice without the pressure

"I felt really reassured having someone to manage the whole project, knowing that even the questions I hadn't thought to ask were being taken care of. Since the work was completed, I've been tracking my average daily gas use and it's dropped by about 30%."

Jennifer Whillis

Say goodbye to wasted energy

After a recommendation, Jennifer found Furbnow, and one of our retrofit coordinators visited her to put together a Home Energy Plan laying out everything her home needed and what it would cost. A follow-up call walked her through it all in detail, so she could make her own informed decisions rather than just being told what to do. As well as her efficiency upgrades, the installation team also took care of the plastering and decorating afterwards, leaving her home neat and finished without any follow-up work for Jennifer. The draughts she’d been living with are gone, her daily gas usage has dropped by around a third, and she no longer needs to boost the heating during the day to stay comfortable. Often, the heating system is simply left switched off. The work also gave her the chance to tidy up some unsightly exposed pipework, which was a welcome bonus she hadn't anticipated.