When we founded A&D back in 2013, we started as heating engineers focused on boilers and plumbing. Fast forward to today, we’re part of the EARNZ group and delivering full retrofit services across the UK. Along the way, one lesson has stood out above all others: tackling decarbonisation and energy efficiency measure by measure simply doesn’t work as well as whole-building solutions.
The piecemeal approach is a familiar story: loft insulation one year, a new boiler the next, cavity wall insulation as a separate programme. Each intervention has benefits, but buildings are complex systems. One change without consideration for the rest of the property can limit impact or create unintended consequences. Installing a new efficient heating system without upgrading insulation means the building continues to leak heat, undercutting energy savings. Focusing solely on insulation without ensuring proper ventilation risks damp and mould.
Whole-building retrofit means looking at the property as a complete system. At A&D, that starts with a full assessment of the building fabric, heating, ventilation, and energy use. We then design a package of measures that work together. Typically this includes external wall insulation to reduce heat loss, cavity wall and loft insulation for further improvement, high-efficiency air source heat pumps paired with insulation so they run effectively, solar PV to generate clean energy, and mechanical ventilation where needed to maintain indoor air quality. By sequencing upgrades properly — fabric first, then heating and renewables — we make sure improvements deliver maximum impact.
For residents, the benefits are tangible: lower bills through reduced energy consumption; improved comfort, with warmer homes in winter and cooler in summer; and healthier living conditions, as damp and mould are addressed when ventilation is part of the plan. We often hear from tenants who say their homes feel completely different after a package of upgrades — a transformation you rarely get with piecemeal work.
For landlords and housing associations, the whole-building approach makes operational and financial sense. EPC targets can be hit more reliably and sustainably. Investments last longer when systems complement each other. Maintenance callouts fall when issues like cold bridging or damp are solved properly. And tenant satisfaction improves, leading to smoother operations and fewer complaints.
Programmes like ECO4 and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund are structured to encourage comprehensive retrofits. Funding is often easier to secure and better utilised when measures are bundled into packages that achieve measurable EPC uplifts. At A&D, we’ve seen first-hand how presenting local authorities and housing associations with whole-building solutions improves our success rate in tenders. It shows we understand not just the technical measures but the bigger picture outcomes policymakers are pushing for.
So why A&D? Over a decade, we’ve grown from a heating business into a full-service retrofit provider. We have strong supply chain and subcontractor relationships built on trust. Our team combines deep technical expertise with compliance and project management capability. And we care — clients and residents consistently tell us we’re knowledgeable, supportive, and easy to work with. We like to say we are big enough to deliver, but small enough to care.
As part of EARNZ, our ambition is to scale this approach across more regions, more housing associations, and more public sector partners. We also see opportunities in commercial retrofit — bringing the same whole-building logic to schools, care homes, and NHS properties. Our message is simple: if we want to meet the UK’s decarbonisation goals, improve EPC ratings, and deliver value for money, we need to think whole-building, not piecemeal.
At A&D Carbon Solutions, we believe whole-building retrofit is the surest way to deliver lasting change. It’s better for residents, better for landlords, and better for the country’s carbon footprint. We’re proud to be playing our part and even prouder to be doing it in partnership with EARNZ, building a group that has the scale, capability, and care to make a real difference.
