We've made some updates to the standard report format that is used by several organisations. These updates were mainly focused on the text in the report and we felt they were needed to better explaining some of our approach and a couple of key issues in retrofit, in response to client queries and an emerging consensus on best practice in the industry:

• Balancing decarbonising heat and ‘fabric first’ approaches: We now better explain what we mean by ‘fabric first’ and how this relates to ensuring homes are ‘retrofit ready’ through repairs and maintenance, and how recommended retrofit strategies respond to client aims.We encourage the decarbonisation of heat while paying attention to client priorities, budgets, building condition, and comfort and health needs. We’ve also better explained changing heating patterns and radiator sizing practices to support efficiency of both condensing boilers and heat pumps. (Text has been updated in ‘Our Approach’ and section 2.21 to support this).
• The importance of well-performing ventilation systems: We are keen to support good indoor air quality in homes, so we have also updated the text on ventilation within the standard report to support this. We’ve explained our preference for continuously running mechanical ventilation systems (section 4.5). We’ve also added some further explanatory text on woodburners, highlighting their negative pollution and carbon impacts (section 4.5.2).

Alongside these bigger thematic updates, we’ve taken the opportunity to improve and tweak other aspects of the standard text and labelling of graphics, clarifying in response to feedback. In doing this we’ve also taken the opportunity to pick up on typos. We’ve also added the following: * A note on the second page about the provenance and development of the Home Retrofit Planner software. * Section 3.3, ‘Quick Wins’: added information on lighting and laundry, updated text on renewable energy use and monitoring. * Section 5.2, ‘Next Steps’: Updated text on help available from People Powered Retrofit. (There is an opportunity for other organisations to do the same). * Glossary: Added text on air to air heat pumps, boiler upgrade scheme (BUS), MEV, dMEV, MVHR, VAT. Updated text on ASHP, GSHP, LETI, RHI.

We hope that all of this makes the report a more useful document to both clients and the householders supporting them. As ever, feedback is always welcome - and if you spot any typos, let us know!

Further updates will be coming soon - especially in Section 4 on context and in measures libraries. We’ll share with partner organisations for comment before these are implemented.