What if the best way to make your home future-proof was simply to knock on your neighbour’s door?
That’s the spirit behind Ovesco’s Pop-Up Eco Home events, and last Saturday in Seaford, it was very much alive.
Our Director Nicki Myers joined homeowners Carol (an Architectural Designer) and Giles (an Architect) for the latest update on their remarkable two-year retrofit project, where they are extensively insulating their 1930s home, Hindover, and generously sharing everything they’re learned along the way.
Here’s Nicki’s account of the afternoon:
“We gathered in Seaford for another update on Carol and Giles’s house. The retrofit means that when this project is finished, the whole house will be insulated, from the sloping ceilings in the attic, the walls, the floor — with triple glazed windows fitted throughout. To keep the house properly ventilated, a whole-house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system will also be installed.
During the afternoon session, we learned about the materials Carol and Giles have used for the external wall insulation, why they chose them, and the pitfalls they discovered along the way. Because they’re doing much of the work themselves, they could report back in real detail.
Carol also shared some striking before-and-after thermal images and helped us understand how to read them. Carol is an Architectural Designer, so her explanations were detailed yet she was very skilled at making the information accessible. Giles, an architect, brought his own experience to the afternoon too. Discussions were lively, the tea was strong and the cake was delicious!”
One attendee summed it up well: “It was an inspiring and informative presentation … there was much transferable information showing how to improve insulation in an older house. While not retrofitting experts themselves, (Giles & Carol’s) knowledge of buildings and stress on the importance of retaining airflow and managing moisture when retrofitting was very valuable.
There were plenty of other useful takeaways including having a clear vision of what you want to achieve, project planning and making sure you do things in the right order. The project highlighted the importance of getting the basics right first – improving insulation and heat retention before installing heat pumps and other measures. We found it very helpful – and we appreciated the tea and cake too – thank you!”
This is exactly what community energy looks like in practice. Not just solar panels and spreadsheets but neighbours opening their doors, sharing hard-won knowledge, and helping each other take meaningful steps. Every home that gets retrofitted well is a small act of collective resilience. Together, we’re building the skills, confidence, and connections our communities need to make the low-carbon transition real.
Thank you Carol and Giles! And thank you for the cake. 🍰