National Refurbishment Centre
The BRE Trust is the largest UK charity dedicated to research and education in the built environment, commissioning research and publishing project findings to provide authoritative guidance to the construction industry. All profits made by the BRE Group are gift aided to the Trust to fund research and education programmes.
The National Refurbishment Centre is a joint venture between the BRE Trust and the Energy Saving Trust, working in partnership with a number of industry organisations including; B&Q, British Gas, Constructing Excellence, DuPont and the RIBA.
It was established to provide evidence and knowledge to support a step-change in the delivery of green refurbishment and retrofit on a nationwide scale.
The UK has committed to reducing overall CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. A large proportion of UK CO2 emissions are generated by, or influenced by the construction industry, and in particular by buildings in use. Many of the buildings that we will occupy in 2050 have already been constructed, and so iIt is critical that existing buildings in the UK, which are among the oldest in Europe, become more energy efficient.
The National Refurbishment Centre is gathering data from a network of refurbishment exemplars to help those delivering refurbishment to understand the most effective measures available, and to help industry and government understand the barriers to mass-scale refurbishment and retrofit.
It has developed an online Refurbishment Portal, giving access to existing sustainable refurbishment best practice case studies and allowing individuals to upload their own refurbishment case studies. It also includes links to reports and best practice guides on all aspects of refurbishment, a state-of-the-nation report on industry attitudes and on-going knowledge papers.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Building Research Establishment.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Building Places that Work for Everyone.
- Climate Change Act.
- Ecobuild 2016 - Making the business case for large scale retrofit investment.
- Energy efficiency retrofit training videos.
- Energy Performance Certificates.
- Fabric first.
- New energy retrofit concept: 'renovation trains' for mass housing.
- Performance gap.
- Refurbishment.
- Renovation v refurbishment v retrofit.
- Retrofit.
- Retrofit coordinator.
- Retrofit, refurbishment and the growth of connected HVAC technology.
Featured articles and news
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.