Ellora Coupe

18/05/2026

One of the biggest barriers women homeowners repeatedly talk about when it comes to retrofit is finance.

Not lack of interest.
Not lack of care.
But simply how to afford doing things properly.

And often the pressure to choose the cheapest or quickest option can unfortunately become the most expensive long term through damp, condensation, poor ventilation or work needing to be redone later.

More finance options are slowly emerging through green mortgages, retrofit lending and government backed schemes and the Green Finance Institute has some useful insight into the growing retrofit finance landscape.

https://www.greenfinanceinstitute.com/products-solutions/retrofit-services-and-partnerships-hub/

We have also been having some really important conversations inside our community around sequencing work properly, reducing risk, managing costs realistically and how women homeowners can approach retrofit without feeling financially overwhelmed.

Join us today at www.herownspace.com

06/05/2026

It’s taken a war and an energy security shock to force the issue.

But the direction is now clear.

The UK cannot continue to rely on fossil fuels in the way we have. Our homes are a big part of that problem and they are also where some of the most practical change can happen.

Retrofit is no longer a niche or something to think about later. It is about reducing exposure to rising energy costs, improving comfort, and making homes more resilient to what is clearly an unstable energy system.

And this matters for women in a very real way.

Women are often the ones managing household budgets, noticing when homes are cold or damp, thinking about health, children, and day to day comfort. Yet when it comes to making decisions about energy upgrades or renovation, many are expected to navigate a complex, technical space without clear, independent guidance.

That gap is still there.

There is a lot of noise, a lot of conflicting advice, and a lot of pressure to make the wrong decisions quickly and to get advice form the wrong people.

Retrofit done well is not about rushing into technology. It is about understanding your home, making the right choices in the right order, and knowing who and what to trust.

That is exactly why Her Own Space exists.

If you are thinking about improving your home, reducing energy use, or just trying to understand what all of this means in practice, you do not have to work it out on your own.

Join Her Own Space for independent advice, clear guidance, and a community of women homeowners working through this together.

👉 www.herownspace.com

01/05/2026

Would you buy a heat pump made of Corten Steel that is designed to rust and creates a patina that ensure the longevity of the heat pump?

Heat pumps are being designed to look more and more aesthetically pleasing, but do you prefer it before it rusts or after and what about all these other colours?

https://kronoterm.eu/corten-material-for-modern-architecture-and-sustainable-applications/

22/04/2026

The Government’s Warm Homes Plan signals something much bigger than policy.
It signals a shift towards healthier, safer, lower energy homes and it is a good moment for homeowners to start paying attention.
Retrofit may sound technical, but at heart it means improving your home so it works better for you through comfort, lower bills, resilience and wellbeing.
That can mean:
• Better insulation and a warmer home
• Thinking about energy security and cleaner heating
• Healthier materials and better air quality
• Tackling damp, overheating and future climate risks
• Exploring solar, batteries and other upgrades in the right order
And the support is growing:
• Up to £9,000 grants for some heat pumps
• Proposed loans for solar, batteries and clean heating
• Zero VAT continuing on many energy saving measures
• EPCs evolving to focus more on performance, not just a single score
To me, the biggest shift is this:
The question is no longer whether homes will need upgrading, but how to do it well.
And women homeowners need to be part of shaping that.
If you want a place to understand retrofit without sales pressure, ask questions, learn from others and make confident decisions for your home, join us in Her Own Space today.
✨ Come join other women navigating this too at www.herownspace.com

22/04/2026

Big news for women homeowners thinking about future proofing your home 🌿

Ed Miliband has announced an increase to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and it is a significant one.

If your home is heated by oil or LPG, you may now be able to get up to £9,000 towards a heat pump, up from £7,500.

This is especially relevant for many off gas grid homes, where heating costs can be volatile and hard to manage.

And this is not just about going greener.

It is about energy security, lower running costs, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels while making homes warmer and more resilient.

But grants alone do not make decisions easier.

How do you know if a heat pump is right for your house?
What upgrades might need to come first?
How do you avoid expensive mistakes?

These are exactly the kinds of questions women are exploring together inside Her Own Space.

If you want impartial support, trusted guidance and a community of women making thoughtful sustainable renovation decisions, come and join us.

✨ Join us today at www.HerOwnSpace.com and make your next home upgrade with more confidence.
What would £9,000 towards a heat pump make possible in your home?👇

02/04/2026

Do homeowners now want energy security?

Iran war fuel price surge drives heat pump, solar panel and battery demand in Netherlands.

A sharp rise in gas prices linked to the war in Iran is driving a sudden surge in demand across the Netherlands for heat pumps, solar panels, home batteries, and used electric vehicles, with installers reporting being overwhelmed and some companies seeing demand spikes of up to 100 percent, Trouw reports.

Installers and retailers across the country are experiencing rapid increases in inquiries and sales, according to industry groups the Dutch Association for Sustainable Energy (NVDE) and Techniek Nederland, as well as multiple companies reporting directly to Trouw.

A sharp rise in gas prices linked to the war in Iran is driving a sudden surge in demand across the Netherlands for heat pumps, solar panels, home batteries, and used electric vehicles, with installers reporting being overwhelmed and some companies seeing demand spikes of up to 100 percent, Trouw re...

19/03/2026

Watch this new episode with our professional member Leah Robson visits Judith Leary Joyce to understand why her Heat Pump might not have been running as well as it could be and what to look out for.

Is your heat pump too big? We revisited Judith Leary Joyce’s Victorian home in St Albans (featured on the channel last year) after she discovered her heat pu...

26/02/2026

Real Story: A Family Left Homeless After Their Builder Went Bust

A family in Sheffield moved out of their home in September 2025 for an extension and renovation project. The work was supposed to improve their home, but shortly after it started, their builder repeatedly demanded more money and then went out of business before completing the job. The family were left unable to live in their house, with works unfinished and their living situation disrupted and distressing.

We listed the key lessons for women homeowners from this article to avoid the same outcome in www.herownspace.com

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g02j2kvrdo?app-referrer=deep-link

Naomi Nygaard says her family has not been able to return to their Sheffield home.

23/02/2026

Indoor air quality is not a luxury. It is a women’s health issue.

Women still spend more time in the home overall, whether that is caring for children, working from home, managing households or supporting older relatives. We are often the first to notice the headaches, the poor sleep, the mould behind a wardrobe, the condensation on the windows, the child with asthma that never quite clears.

The air inside our homes can contain moisture, mould spores, VOCs from paints and furniture, cooking pollutants and fine particles that build up in poorly ventilated spaces. These are linked to respiratory conditions, hormonal disruption, fatigue and increased stress on the immune system. For women in perimenopause or pregnancy, or those managing autoimmune conditions, this really matters.

Retrofit is not just about carbon and kilowatts. It is about:

• Proper ventilation that actually works
• Managing moisture and preventing mould
• Using low toxicity materials
• Designing homes that support good sleep and stable temperatures
• Creating spaces that feel calm, breathable and safe

At www.herownspace.com, we care about retrofit because we care about women’s wellbeing. A warm, dry, well ventilated home is preventative health in action.

If you have concerns about condensation, mould, stuffy rooms or poor ventilation, share below. We can shape a session or deep dive around what you need most.

14/02/2026

A little Valentines Day Humour....

“Keen to refresh your love story? Perhaps it’s time to open your relationship up to a warm newcomer… Reliable, always HOT, ridiculously efficient, and er.. ready to help change the world!”

Keen to refresh your love story? Perhaps it’s time to open your relationship up to a warm newcomer…Reliable, always HOT, ridiculously efficient, and er.. re...