FAQs

Depending on the survey type you choose, one of our expert surveyors will visit your home and carry out a thorough assessment. This includes looking at how your home is built, how it’s used, and what changes could make it warmer, cheaper to run and cut carbon emissions. 

After the visit, we’ll send you a personalised report that explains what improvements we recommend, what they might cost, and how much they could save. You’ll get a step-by-step plan that’s clear, practical and jargon-free. 

Watch our video to find out more.

Yes, we work with other organisations based in some of the areas Futureproof also operates in. Our main partners are Retrofit West and Bath and West Community Energy.

We refer people to both Retrofit West and Bath and West Community Energy for certain surveys. This is because they provide similar surveys, often at a discount because they have utilised local funding. Often though, the surveyor conducting your survey will be from Futureproof. So, although you might book a survey through another organisation, you’ll receive the same quality and information that you need.

Retrofit West was launched in 2023 by the Centre for Sustainable Energy – the same charity behind Futureproof. It’s a one-stop shop offering independent advice and support for energy-efficient home improvements in the West of England. It coordinates local supply chains, facilitates training, and helps households plan, design, and deliver sustainable retrofit projects to achieve net zero and energy affordability. Visit their website for up-to-date information.

Many ‘free’ surveys are linked to specific products or are offered by companies wanting to sell you particular solutions. Our advice is completely independent and impartial – we’re not trying to sell you anything. We offer a ‘whole-house’ approach, where we consider how different energy efficiency measures will work together in your home – rather than simply pushing one solution or product. 

Because we’re a charity, our fees simply cover the cost of the service. There are no hidden profits or sales targets. All income goes back into our mission to tackle climate change and fuel poverty. 

Our customers consistently tell us the value comes from our expert, personal and trusted guidance – and the confidence it gives them to make the right decisions for their home.

We listen to what you tell us you can afford. Our post-survey reports always include a range of options, from quick wins to more comprehensive improvements. We’ll help you prioritise what makes the biggest difference within your budget. 

We’re completely transparent about costs. Our reports include realistic cost estimates, and we’ll always be upfront about the pros and cons of different approaches. 

Remember, we don’t profit from any work you choose to do. Our only interest is helping you make informed decisions that deliver the comfort, savings, and environmental benefits you want. 

EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) surveys are designed for property transactions, not practical energy efficiency improvements tailored to you and your home. They give your home a basic energy efficiency rating but don’t provide bespoke, practical advice on what to do to improve the rating or how to prioritise changes. 

Futureproof surveys are designed for action. We give you a clear roadmap with specific recommendations, realistic costs, and guidance on the best order to do things. 

As part of our Retrofit Survey Plus, we use advanced modelling technology to understand how different improvements will work specifically in your home – not just generic recommendations. 

We currently offer Futureproof surveys in Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. If you’re not sure whether your home is covered in our catchment area, just get in touch and we’ll let you know. 

Our assessors do follow the principles of PAS 2035, which includes a whole-house approach to retrofit to recommend suitable measures. But PAS 2035 was created for grant-funded retrofit and includes a lot of rigid requirements to ensure these grants are used appropriately. Futureproof surveys are for self-funded retrofit, which means that while we follow the best practice guidelines, we’re able to design a service that’s simple, user friendly and tailored for you. 

You might be eligible for schemes to reduce the cost of certain installations, for example, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme supports the installation of low-carbon heating like heat pumps. We can help you with this if it’s suitable.  

If you’re eligible for government schemes, such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) or the Warm Homes Local Grant, then you would need to apply through the scheme.