Our 'Old House to Eco-house’ course programmes are aimed at those eager to gain the specific expertise required to design and implement sensitive retrofit strategies appropriate to older buildings.
A series of three standalone one-day courses, a more condensed two-day intensive version is planned for spring 2026 with accommodation at our Cirencester campus.
Who are the courses suitable for?
- Conservation officers and heritage planners
- Architects, surveyors and engineers
- Retrofit coordinators and assessors
- Contractors and builders
- Specialist consultants
- Local authority and housing association staff
- Owners, custodians and managers of historic buildings
What you’ll achieve at the end of the courses
Delegates will learn how to:
- Identify appropriate insulation strategies for walls, floors and roofs
- Evaluate glazing upgrade options for historic windows
- Assess renewable energy technologies in heritage contexts
- Utilise case studies illustrating successful retrofit interventions
- Deliver moisture-safe, effective retrofit schemes, appropriate to the physics of the building
How are the courses delivered?
We offer the three standalone courses face-to-face on our RAU campus at Swindon, each over one day.
We adopt a blended learning approach, combining lecture-delivered theory with discussion of real-life case studies, to promote understanding of and engagement with course content amongst delegates.
If you would prefer to undertake all three courses over two consecutive days, we plan to run a two-day intensive in spring 2026, delivered in-person at our Cirencester campus.
About the Course Leaders
The courses are designed by Marianne Suhr, Chartered Building Surveyor and co author of the Old House Eco Handbook.
She will be lecturing alongside a host of nationally-recognised experts in retrofit and conservation, including Nick Heath, Bob Prewett and James Ayres who will bring real life case studies to illustrate a practical approach to decision making.
Apply now
Book now on our Online Shop here.
Our course dates are:
Retrofitting Floors, Walls and Roofs – this course has now taken place
Installing Renewables in Historic Buildings – 10 December 2025, 9.20 am - 5.30 pm, £150 + VAT, Swindon campus
Retrofitting Historic Windows – 14 January 2026, 9.20 am - 5.30 pm, £150 + VAT, Swindon campus
Two-Day Spring Intensive – Date TBC but February 2026, Price TBC, Cirencester campus
For those who would prefer to undertake all three courses over two consecutive days.
All course prices include refreshments and a buffet lunch.
If you are an IHBC member, 12 discounted places are available per course. Please book on the Online Shop here.
Please scroll down to view course content for each date.
If you have any queries, please get in touch via our continuing professional development enquiry form or call +44 (0) 1285 652531.
Funding options
If you are looking at grants to cover the cost of attending our courses, you may meet the requirements for the UK Government's Community Hub Bursaries. These provide grants of up to £1000 for people seeking to grow their expertise in community heritage work and can be used for professional development activities. For more information, visit the GOV.UK webpage here.
You may also meet the requirements for Cotswold District Council UK Shared Prosperity Fund funding. For more information, visit the Cotswold District Council website here.
Additionally, you may meet the requirements for Gloucestershire Disability Fund's well-being grants which can fund education and training for adults. For more information, visit the Gloucestershire Disability Fund website here.
Stay with us
Located in the heart of the Cotswolds - we offer comfortable accommodation at our Cirencester campus, with free on-site parking and sustainable catering using local suppliers. Find out more about our accommodation and book here.
Terms and conditions
Read our terms and conditions for short courses and CPD training here.
Please read these carefully before booking.
This course focuses on the scientific and practical aspects of insulating solid walls, floors, and roofs in older buildings.
|
9.00 am |
Registration and coffee |
|
9.20 am |
Welcome |
|
9.30 am |
Basic building physics
Speaker: Nick Heath, NDM Heath |
|
11.00 am |
Questions and discussion |
|
11.30 am |
Break |
|
11.45 am |
Insulating walls - the options Practical installation of IWI and EWI and insulating renders Speaker: James Ayres, Lime Green |
|
12.30 pm |
Insulating timber framed buildings Speaker: Marianne Suhr, Old House Consultancy |
|
1.15 pm |
Questions and discussion |
|
1.30 pm |
Lunch |
|
2.15 pm |
Roof insulation Insulating from above, insulating from below, bats, membranes and solar gain Speaker: Bob Prewett, Prewett Bizley Architects |
|
2.45 pm |
Insulating floors Laying limecrete floors and insulating suspended timber floors Speaker: Marianne Suhr, Old House Consultancy |
|
3.30 pm |
Questions and discussion |
|
3.45 pm |
Break |
|
4.00 pm |
Case study: Retrofitting a Victorian Terrace House Speaker: Bob Prewett, Prewett Bizley Architects |
|
4.30 pm |
Case study: TBC |
|
5.00 pm |
Discussion |
|
5.30 pm |
End of course |
Please note, this course schedule may be subject to change.
This course focuses on how renewable energy technologies can be incorporated into older properties.
|
9.20 am |
Welcome |
|
9.30 am |
The challenge of space and water heating - insights from the National Trust Speaker: Jo Lugg, Project Manager, Low Carbon Estates, National Trust |
|
10.00 am |
The science of space heating Thermal mass, conduction, convection, radiation, heat loss calculations, radiators v UFH Speaker: Chris Worboys, Etude |
|
10.30 am |
Adopting a fabric first approach Speaker: Bob Prewett, Prewett Bizley Architects |
|
11.00 am |
Questions and discussion |
|
11.15 am |
Break |
|
11.30 am |
Heat pumps and older buildings Ground, water and air source Speaker: Dan McNaughton, Historic England |
|
12.15 pm |
Questions and discussion |
| 12.30 pm |
Solar panels and historic settings Speaker: Chris Worboys, Etude |
|
1.00 pm |
Questions and discussion |
|
1.15 pm |
Lunch |
|
2.00 pm |
Biomass, wood burning stoves and real fires Speaker: Dan McNaughton, Historic England |
|
2.30 pm |
Infra red heaters Guest speaker: Rod Davies, Energy Carbon |
| 3.00 pm | Questions |
|
3.15 pm |
Break |
|
3.30 pm |
Case Study 1: Athelhampton House Speaker: Stefan Pitman, SPASE |
|
4.15 pm |
Case Study 2: Victorian Terrace Speaker: Bob Prewett, Prewett Bizley Architects |
|
5.00 pm |
Questions and discussion |
|
5.15 pm |
End of course |
Please note, this course schedule may be subject to change
This course focuses on upgrading and repairing historic window assemblies while preserving character and ensuring energy efficiency.
|
9.20 am |
Welcome |
|
9.30 am |
Old windows - why bother? |
|
10.00 am |
Window repair |
|
10.30 am |
Assessing significance and justifying change Speaker: Laura Millbourn, Period Home Projects |
|
11.00 am |
Break |
|
11.15 am |
Old windows and the science of heat transfer Speaker: Nick Heath, NDM Heath |
|
11.45 am |
Secondary glazing systems - showcase by manufacturers |
|
12.45 pm |
Questions |
|
1.00 pm |
Lunch and product display |
|
1.45 pm |
Tailoring solutions based on use Speaker: Marianne Suhr, Old House Consultancy |
|
2.15 pm |
Upgrading old windows with replacement panes Speaker: Nick Heath, NDM Heath |
|
2.45 pm |
Questions and discussion |
|
3.00 pm |
Break |
|
3.15 pm |
Detailing new windows in historic buildings |
|
3.45 pm |
Specifying glass for new windows |
|
4.15 pm |
Case studies: alternative approaches Speaker: Bob Prewett, Prewett Bizley Architects |
|
5.00 pm |
Questions and discussion |
|
5.30 pm |
End of course |
Please note, this course schedule may be subject to change.
Course content from the above standalone courses will be covered over two consecutive days.