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.
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 in March. 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 at Futurebuild 2025, visit www.futurebuild.co.uk to secure your tickets now.
