Sustainable Renovation Guide
We commissioned this work in association with SEDA (Scottish Ecological Design Association) and HES (Historic Environment Scotland) in 2018, and it was then created by Chris Morgan, an architect and a Director at John Gilbert Architects. A second edition was published in 2023.
The Sustainable Renovation Guide describes ten ways in which those involved in the retrofit and renovation of Scotland’s homes can improve upon current practice, achieving better energy performance as well as gaining wider sustainability benefits.
The guide includes detailed information and drawings of exactly how parts of a building can be upgraded along with a commentary on practical issues to look out for.
With the Scottish Government directing large amounts of money into the retrofit sector in an effort to combat climate change and fuel poverty, The Pebble Trust seized the opportunity to help ensure that this effort is as effective and sustainable as possible by commissioning this timely and insightful guide.
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View our introduction to the
Sustainable Renovation Guide
Sustainable Renovation Guide
Who is the Guide aimed at?
Are you involved in the renovation of existing buildings? The Sustainable Renovation Guide is aimed at everybody in the retrofit sector from homeowners interested in upgrading their homes to architects, builders, surveyors as well as those working in government, housing associations and councils.
Who was involved in creating the Guide?
The Sustainable Renovation Guide was commissioned by The Pebble Trust – in association with SEDA (Scottish Ecological Design Association) and HES (Historic Environment Scotland) – and created by Chris Morgan, an architect and a Director at John Gilbert Architects with 30 years’ experience in ecological design and sustainable development.
“When we bought our timber-frame house – a bungalow built in 1980 – we knew that we wanted to make it energy efficient and to look after our investment. We found The Pebble Trust’s Sustainable Renovation Guide a very good primer for our project. The Guide helped us set realistic expectations and to figure out what would be worth the investment compared to the energy we would save over time“
M.K., Newtonmore
Ten ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home
The Guide is about improving energy performance and efficiency – but it differs from conventional guidance by also considering comfort, health, building fabric and people:
- Seeking a more effective approach to energy efficiency
- Taking account of the comfort and health of people who live in buildings
- Avoiding problems which could lead to building fabric decay and deterioration
- Favouring details based on real, measured performance, rather than modelled predictions
- Highlighting the need for more co-ordination and inspection, and for better workmanship
- Integrating considerations of moisture in buildings
- Proposing a much closer of engagement with people, particularly occupants
- Acknowledging the different construction principles and materials found in older buildings
- Placing value on maintenance
- Suggesting that the ‘significance’ of individual buildings should be integrated into routine retrofit assessment.
The guide discusses these aspects before providing detailed examples of how to apply the ideas in practice.
Historic Environment Scotland Refurbishment case study – thermal upgrade works to a 19th century lodge house.
This Refurbishment Case Study, available to download, describes the repair and upgrade works carried out at Holyrood Park Lodge in Edinburgh, currently a visitor centre for Holyrood Park. The works focussed on improving the thermal performance of the building with appropriate materials that preserved the character and appearance of the listed building and minimised disruption to the remaining original fabric.
Consideration was given to wider issues of sustainability, such as the durability of the measures and their embodied carbon. An important part of the project, in addition to the thermal improvements, was to retain or reinstate some of the traditional finishes and details that had been lost and are often overlooked in conventional refurbishments.
Historic Environment Scotland Refurbishment case study – thermal upgrade works to a 19th century lodge house.
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This Refurbishment Case Study, available to download, describes the repair and upgrade works carried out at Holyrood Park Lodge in Edinburgh, currently a visitor centre for Holyrood Park. The works focussed on improving the thermal performance of the building with appropriate materials that preserved the character and appearance of the listed building and minimised disruption to the remaining original fabric.
Consideration was given to wider issues of sustainability, such as the durability of the measures and their embodied carbon. An important part of the project, in addition to the thermal improvements, was to retain or reinstate some of the traditional finishes and details that had been lost and are often overlooked in conventional refurbishments.
“There is no doubt that this is an incredibility important publication and my highlight of the year. This Design Guide is aimed at everybody in the retrofit sector from Policy Makers and Housing organisations, to Architects, Builders, Surveyors and those simply interested in upgrading their own homes“
Dan Gates
Supporting Policy
Based on the success of the Sustainable Renovation Guide, the Pebble Trust commissioned John Gilbert Architects to produce a policy pamphlet, putting forward ideas for policy, financial and regulatory changes to support the practical improvements proposed in the guide. Find out more.
