Financing retrofit differently with SMS Energy | RISE Masterclass
In this masterclass, delivered by SMS, we’ll take a closer look at how new, fully funded retrofit models are changing what’s possible in social housing — removing upfront cost barriers, improving resident outcomes, landlord liabilities and delivering measurable performance over time.
Led by Tom Woolley, Director of Low Carbon – Metis, the session draws on real world delivery and live operational data from homes already benefiting from funded low carbon upgrades.
About
Understanding how retrofit is financed and how systems perform once installed is just as important as the technology itself.
This session explores how subscription‑based retrofit can be used to decarbonise homes at scale — fixing a portion of household energy demand away from grid volatility, improving resilience, and delivering long‑term value without placing cost or credit burden on residents.
Grounded in live delivery experience, the masterclass provides clarity on how this model works in practice, what outcomes it delivers, and what it means for housing providers planning compliant, scalable retrofit programmes.
What we’ll cover
You’ll gain practical insight into:
- How a proactive, subscription‑based retrofit model works in practice — and how it moves beyond reactive, grant‑led or upfront‑capital approaches
- What real‑world performance data tells us about outcomes that matter: household savings, comfort, resilience through winter peak periods, and long‑term asset performance
- How outcome‑based, funded models can reduce exposure to energy price volatility while improving certainty for residents and landlords
- What this approach means in practice for social landlords — including implications for resident bills, engagement, governance and confidence at board level
- How Local Authorities and Housing Associations can use private and impact finance to accelerate retrofit at scale, without relying on subsidy or distorting capital plans
- What government and policy teams can learn from early operational evidence when designing future retrofit frameworks that prioritise delivery, outcomes and investability
Who this masterclass is for
- Housing Association asset, sustainability and investment teams
- Local Authority housing and retrofit leads
- Policy makers and advisors working on decarbonisation, fuel poverty and long‑term funding models
- Anyone involved in shaping scalable, outcome‑led retrofit programmes