THE JUDGING period for the Big Retrofit Challenge has concluded and seven potentially game-changing innovations in home decarbonisation have been selected as winners.

Designed to unearth pioneering solutions for decarbonisation and healthy living spaces, The Big Retrofit Challenge winners demonstrated awareness of issues and opportunities such as hard-to-heat properties, health and social benefits, sustainability and scalability. The winners will be presenting their innovative solutions live at The National Retrofit Conference, which is co-located with Futurebuild at London’s Excel on the 4^th March from 15:45 to 16:15.

Co-hosted by the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG), Innovate UK, The Retrofit Academy and Futurebuild, the competition winners include:

• Advanced Construction Technologies Limited – Power-Roof® is a roof cassette system that delivers net zero for retrofit and new build houses
• Anzen Innovations Limited – Anzen’s solid-state heat pump uses thermoelectric semiconductor modules to deliver efficient, refrigerant-free heating and cooling
• Biaco Energy – Biaco’s zero carbon boiler consumes the gases and minerals held in water to create high quality output thermal heat
• Build Test Solutions Ltd – BTS Cloud will help users understand the overall energy performance and health of a given building, if retrofit measures are required, and what impact they’ll make
• Eyesea Green Limited – Eyesense is an AI-powered energy management system that optimises energy efficiency, reduces carbon emissions and enhances indoor air quality
• IndiNature (Industrial Nature UK Ltd) – IndiTherm and IndiBreathe insulation batts offer a solution for retrofitting existing homes, utilising natural, UK-grown hemp materials
• Power Circle Projects Ltd – SHIELD (Smart Heat and Intelligent Energy in Low Income Districts) provides low cost, low carbon heat and power to low-income households at no upfront cost to the household

Paul Rogers, national decarbonisation manager at CLC Group and lead for the NHDG’s innovation working group, said: “The seven winners should be extremely pleased to have stood out amid stiff competition, having received almost 80 competition entries in total. The judging panel deliberated, and it was decided that these innovations all directly address central challenges to the retrofit sector or improve wider processes for the delivery of projects that help consumers live in healthier, cheaper to run and greener homes.

“The NHDG is committed to advancing innovation within the sector and we’re pleased to have seen such widespread engagement with this competition, helping to identify exciting solutions and increase the collaboration between businesses of different sizes on our shared energy efficiency journey.”

The winners, who competed against entrepreneurs and businesses with an annual turnover of up to £15m, will now have the opportunity to pitch their solutions live at the National Retrofit Conference at Futurebuild on 4th March at 15:45 to 16:15. They will also benefit from exclusive networking with key industry stakeholders, including NHDG members, and may secure the opportunity to pilot their solutions in decarbonisation projects nationwide.

Martin Hurn, event director at Futurebuild, said: “This competition perfectly embodies what Futurebuild stands for – bringing together the supply chain and the specifier community to drive meaningful change. Supporting start-ups and innovators is central to our mission, as we believe that fostering groundbreaking ideas is key to transforming the built environment.

“Our partnership with the NHDG and Innovate UK highlights the powerful impact collaboration can have in accelerating decarbonisation and delivering healthier, more sustainable living spaces. We’re proud to showcase these exceptional solutions at Futurebuild, where innovation leads to action.”

To hear from the winners at the National Retrofit Conference, co-located with Futurebuild 2025, visit www.futurebuild.co.uk to secure your tickets now.

ENDS

For more information or to arrange an interview with an NHDG representation, please contact Dominic Smith, Matthew Santos or Katie Nelson at Cartwright Communications via nhdg@cartwrightcommunications.co.uk or on 0115 853 2110.

Notes to editors:

About the National Home Decarbonisation Group:

Established in 2023, the national Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) is a membership organisation representing Tier 1 contractors and energy suppliers. These organisations have come together to deliver the housing decarbonisation solutions to support millions of people feeling the impact of the ongoing energy, cost of living, health and climate crises.

The group aims to coordinate businesses providing residential decarbonisation at scale across all tenures of UK housing and will focus on three core areas; skills and training, policy, and innovation.

To learn more about NHDG, its aims and its members, please visit the website at: https://www.nhdg.org/

About Futurebuild:

Taking place on 4^th-6^th March 2025, Futurebuild is an annual event at London’s ExCeL focused on showcasing the latest innovations and solutions making an impact in the built environment. Now in its 20^th year, Futurebuild continues with championing its brand purpose which is centered around promoting sustainability, pushing boundaries, and fostering collaboration within the industry to inspire positive change and a more sustainable industry. 

As the industry’s most impactful event, it provides the platform for inspiring ideas, innovative solutions and knowledge sharing aimed at advancing sustainable construction and achieving net zero. It brings together the entire supply chain to showcase, debate, and understand emerging technologies that will make net zero possible.

For more information visit https://www.futurebuild.co.uk

About The Retrofit Academy:

For more information, visit https://retrofitacademy.org

About Innovate UK:

For more information, visit https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk

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