Warm, affordable, sustainable: life inside Waltham Forest’s eco show home

The retrofit project on Greenleaf Road has transformed a once draughty Victorian terrace into a cutting-edge, energy-efficient home. Following a total retrofit by our contractor, Aston Group, the house was opened to the public in September 2021 for eight months, welcoming government ministers, professionals, students, and residents from across London. But it’s not just a showpiece – it’s a real home, delivering lower bills, greater comfort, and a smaller carbon footprint for the social housing tenants now living there. 

This modernisation saves money, cuts carbon and shows how older homes across the borough can be upgraded to meet the challenges of the climate emergency. The property welcomed a family in 2022, who are now enjoying the benefits of this work.

Built in 1902, the property originally had poor insulation and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E. Following extensive retrofit works led by Aston Group and the council, the home now boasts an EPC rating of A – the highest possible rating for energy efficiency. 

Three years on, the improvements have made a real difference: 

• Electricity bills dropped by over £750 in just one year
• Heating and hot water costs fell by £530 annually, based on EPC estimates
• Carbon emissions have been reduced to zero, thanks to solar panels and clean energy systems, making the home more sustainable 

These savings mean the residents are spending less on energy and more on the things that really matter, while enjoying a warmer, healthier, more comfortable living space.

The retrofit included: 

• Solar panels and battery storage
• Loft, wall and underfloor insulation
• Air source heat pump
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
• Smart lighting and sockets
• Triple glazing
• Flood prevention landscaping 

These features help keep the home warm in winter and cool in summer, while reducing reliance on the grid. In September 2025, the solar system produced 299.5 kWh, all used within the home – showing how effective the system is, even on cloudy days. Since installation, the solar system has produced over 13,500 kWh of electricity. Most of this has been used directly in the home, helping the residents cut energy costs and reduce reliance on the grid. 

This retrofit is part of our bold ambition to become a net-zero borough by 2030. The council has declared a climate emergency and is taking action across homes, transport, waste, and green spaces to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate impacts like flooding and heatwaves. 

The Greenleaf Road retrofit is just one example of how the council is delivering on its Climate Action Plan, making homes more energy efficient, reducing emissions, and leading by example in sustainable housing. 

To build on the success of projects like Greenleaf Road, we are currently delivering the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.2, supported by £1.44 million in government funding. This programme is improving energy efficiency in 175 council homes, with 120 already completed. Measures include: 

• External, cavity, internal wall and loft insulation
• Improved ventilation
• Solar panels (funded separately to SHDF Wave 2.2)  

In addition, we recently secured £2.25 million in further government funding to support energy efficiency improvements in local homes. This includes: 

• £1.7 million from the Greater London Authority’s Warm Homes: Local Grant, supporting residents on lower incomes in privately owned or rented homes. Installations will be carried out by the council’s own retrofit company, Kanopiworks, which is part of Waltham Forest Servicestore.
• £512,000 from the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, enabling the installation of solar panels, loft insulation and improved ventilation on 100 council homes with EPC ratings of D or below. 

Together, these investments will help even more residents, both in social housing and the private rented sector, benefit from lower bills, warmer homes, and a reduced carbon footprint.

With 70% of homes in Waltham Forest built before 1944, retrofitting older properties is essential to addressing the climate emergency, tackling fuel poverty and creating a greener borough.  

More than 2,900 people toured the eco home, including local residents, school groups, housing professionals, and government officials. The Greenleaf Road project demonstrates how older homes can be upgraded to meet modern energy standards, making them more suitable for the future and delivering tangible benefits for residents. 

Visit the following pages to explore retrofit advice and practical steps to make your home warmer, greener and more affordable. Thinking about retrofitting your home? Why not get in touch with Kanopiworks, the council’s own retrofit company, which is part of Waltham Forest Servicestore.