The National Retrofit Hub, working with Arup and supported by Impact on Urban Health and TrustMark, has published a new report exploring how SMETER-HTC and other measured data methods can help the UK design and deliver more effective retrofit programmes.
Many delivery schemes still rely on predicted performance and EPC ratings. These metrics often fail to reflect real performance or resident experience.
The report highlights how pre-retrofit measured data can reduce project risk, minimise abortive works, target the right homes and improve outcomes for households. Stronger baselines can also support more confident, locally-led delivery and give decision makers a better understanding of how fabric and systems interact.
The report identifies opportunities for change within emerging policy frameworks, including the Warm Homes Plan, Future Homes Standard and EPC reform. Embedding measured data into funding criteria would enable the supply chain to prove performance and strengthen an outcome-focused retrofit system.
To support the sector, the report sets out practical next steps that organisations can begin implementing now. These include integrating SMETER-HTC with complementary datasets, establishing minimum data standards and providing clearer guidance for landlords and housing providers. There is also a call for better validation and interpretation mechanisms so that landlords and households are not left to navigate outputs alone.
Rachael Owens, Co-Director, National Retrofit Hub, commented: “To transform the UK’s housing stock, we need a framework that rewards real performance, not predicted performance. Measured data is central to that shift. SMETER-HTC and other emerging tools give us the ability to understand true thermal performance at scale, which means we can target funding more effectively, prioritise the right homes and support programmes that deliver genuine outcomes. As we look ahead to EPC reform and wider regulatory change, it is essential that measurement becomes part of the foundation of retrofit policy. It is one of the clearest ways to raise confidence across the sector and improve results for households.”
Tara Clinton, Associate, Arup, added: “Better measurement drives better outcomes. It supports high-quality, locally led retrofit delivery and helps move the sector away from intervention-specific or EPC-based targets. Credible data also helps us track network decarbonisation, unlock finance opportunities, and build resident trust. This report lays important foundations for developing a shared, sector-wide view of effective measurement. Our thanks to the NRH, the NRH network and the many experts who contributed to this report.”
Key recommendations from the report include:
• Further research in combining different forms of measured data with SMETER-HTC
• Developing minimum data standards for portfolio decision making
• Embedding performance-based requirements in funding frameworks
• Providing practical guidance for landlords on using calculated HTC data
• Improving validation and interpretation support for households and landlords
• Continuing industry dialogue on consistent measurement standards
Download the full report here.
