Low-energy homes · FORMFOLD ARCHITECTS · 17 September 2026 · 3 min read
A warmer home is not just about choosing a new heating system. It starts with understanding where heat is lost, how moisture moves and which rooms are uncomfortable. Looking at the building as a whole helps individual improvements work together.
Identify the construction of the walls, roof and floors, along with existing insulation and ventilation. Investigate damp, leaks and defective rainwater goods before covering them up. An appropriate survey can help distinguish a building defect from condensation or an unsuitable earlier repair.
Insulation and draught-proofing can reduce heat loss. The right approach depends on the building: a solid wall needs different consideration from a cavity wall, and a suspended timber floor presents different junctions from a concrete slab.
Plan connections between measures, such as wall insulation meeting window reveals or the roof. If you are already replacing a roof or renovating a room, consider what improvement can sensibly be incorporated at the same time.
Reducing unintended draughts changes how air moves through a home. RICS highlights the importance of appropriate ventilation alongside measures that make a building more airtight. Do not block intentional vents or flues to eliminate a draught.
The ventilation strategy should suit the proposed work, occupancy and building. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery can be useful in suitable projects, but it needs coordinated design, installation, commissioning and maintenance.
Once the likely heat demand is understood, review heating controls, emitters and the suitability of potential systems. Avoid assuming that an existing boiler size tells you what a future system should be. Room-by-room heat-loss assessment can inform those decisions.
Think about cold surfaces, fresh air, noise and summer overheating. Our Healthy Home Guide introduces the wider design conversation.
Further reading: Energy Saving Trust: reducing heat loss and RICS: improving home energy efficiency. Measures need assessment for the particular property.
Thinking about your own project? Get in touch with FORMFOLD to discuss your home, priorities and next steps.