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Summary

Professor Richard Fitton joins me on the podcast to talk about building performance, EPC reform, and the growing role surveyors will play in the retrofit of UK housing.

Richard is a Chartered Building Surveyor and Professor of Building Physics at the University of Salford. He leads Energy House 2.0, a world-leading research facility where full houses are tested inside climate-controlled chambers to understand exactly how buildings perform.

We talk about EPC accuracy, the performance gap between modelling and real buildings, and the research behind Richard’s white paper calling for better building data.

We also explore the Warm Homes Plan, the debate around fabric-first retrofit, and why surveyors have a major opportunity to expand their role in energy performance, ventilation, and healthy homes.

What We Cover

• Richard’s route into surveying and academia
• Inside Energy House and Energy House 2.0
• Why real building performance testing matters
• EPC reform and measured building data
• The UK Warm Homes Plan and retrofit funding
• Fabric first versus technology first retrofit
• Opportunities for surveyors in retrofit work
• The RICS retrofit surveyor pathway
• Assessing renewable technologies in homes
• Why healthy homes and ventilation matter

Guest Links

Richard Fitton on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-fitton-a668a822b

Useful Links

RICS Guidance on Retrofit - https://www.rics.org/consumer-guides/retrofitting-improving-energy-efficiency-home

Energy House - https://energyhouselabs.salford.ac.uk/

Warm Homes Plan - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-plan

Guest Bio

Professor Richard Fitton is a Chartered Building Surveyor, Fellow of the RICS, and Professor of Building Physics at the University of Salford.

He is the Technical Director of Energy House 2.0. This unique global research facility enables the construction of full homes within climate-controlled chambers to test real building performance under simulated weather conditions.

Richard’s research focuses on building performance, retrofit, energy efficiency, and housing sustainability. His work is influencing major UK housing policy and helping shape the design of new homes and retrofit strategies nationwide.

Alongside his research, Richard continues to engage with industry and surveying practice. He is also a member of the UK Fuel Poverty Committee, advising the government on policies to reduce fuel poverty and improve housing conditions.

If you want to connect with surveyors across the UK and keep up with the profession, join The Surveying Room. It is free to join and open to all types of surveyors, students, and professionals who work with them. Surveyors UK & The Surveying Room

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