WHat is loco home and how we help homeowners in scotland with retrofit
Our story
Based in Glasgow, Chris was inspired to start his social enterprise after the birth of his first child, when he became acutely aware of the world they would be inheriting. Leaving his 18-year career in business, Chris went back to university to re-train, and ended up focussing on the decarbonisation of buildings.
Our aims
1. Households can easily access information and services to rapidly eliminate their carbon emissions.
2. Fairness is achieved.
3. Collective action is taken.
4. The supply chain is effective and trusted.
5. Carbon reduction strategies are created and shared
6. There is widespread awareness of domestic carbon emissions and of progress in reducing these
7. Glasgow and scotland’s economy is sustainable.
8. Carbon Reduction Laws, regulations and policies are created and implemented
With domestic buildings accounting for __% of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, and heating being a core contributor, Loco Homes Retrofit CIC aims to help households implement energy efficiency measures, and low-carbon heating systems, by breaking down the knowledge and cost barriers that many people in Scotland face.
What makes Loco Homes Retrofit CIC unique is their community, place-based focus. They have designed a community engagement programme to help individuals and families understand the benefit of decarbonising their houses, as well as offering practical and affordable solutions for those wanting to make changes to their properties.
Loco Home Retrofit is a Glasgow-based co-operative of householders, contractors and advisers focused on promoting energy efficiency within our homes, tackling the climate crisis and keeping energy bills affordable.
Retrofitting is the process of making changes to existing buildings to cut energy consumption and emissions. The initial focus is on the fabric of a household by reducing energy demand through insulation, airtightness and efficient ventilation. The next step is replacing boilers with low-carbon alternatives such as heat pumps.
Our Values
1. People first
We are proudly member-led and people-focused. We work with homeowners and landlords, not on them—offering advice, care, and hands-on support every step of the way. We promote agency, dignity, and informed decision-making, ensuring retrofit is something people feel ownership of, not overwhelmed by.
2. Comfort, health, and wellbeing
Retrofit is about more than just energy efficiency. It’s about creating homes that are warm, dry, healthy, and enjoyable to live in. We prioritise quality of life, supporting improvements that enhance day-to-day comfort while reducing fuel bills and health risks.
3. Low risk, no regrets
We take a planned approach—focusing on solutions that are cost-effective, long-lasting, and suited to each home. Our aim is to reduce risks for households and avoid costly mistakes or short-term fixes.
4. Climate responsibility
We treat the climate crisis as the urgent emergency it is. Our work is part of a bigger shift towards a zero-carbon future, helping people reduce their emissions while adapting homes to cope with the changing climate.
5. Community wealth building
We’re rooted in place. By working with trusted local suppliers, tradespeople, and services, we help grow the local economy and keep investment within our communities—supporting skilled jobs and long-term resilience.
At Loco Home Retrofit, our work is grounded in a set of core values that guide everything we do—from the way we support each household to how we contribute to our local communities and the planet.
Dignity, comfort, climate action, delivered with care and community at its heart.
1. People first
We are proudly member-led and people-focused. We work with homeowners and landlords, not on them—offering advice, care, and hands-on support every step of the way. We promote agency, dignity, and informed decision-making, ensuring retrofit is something people feel ownership of, not overwhelmed by.
2. Comfort, health, and wellbeing
Retrofit is about more than just energy efficiency. It’s about creating homes that are warm, dry, healthy, and enjoyable to live in. We prioritise quality of life, supporting improvements that enhance day-to-day comfort while reducing fuel bills and health risks.
3. Low risk, no regrets
We take a planned approach—focusing on solutions that are cost-effective, long-lasting, and suited to each home. Our aim is to reduce risks for households and avoid costly mistakes or short-term fixes.
4. Climate responsibility
We treat the climate crisis as the urgent emergency it is. Our work is part of a bigger shift towards a zero-carbon future, helping people reduce their emissions while adapting homes to cope with the changing climate.
5. Community wealth building
We’re rooted in place. By working with trusted local suppliers, tradespeople, and services, we help grow the local economy and keep investment within our communities—supporting skilled jobs and long-term resilience.
We tackle the climate emergency head-on
At Loco Home Retrofit, we recognise that climate change isn’t just a future risk—it’s a present-day reality. That’s why our work goes beyond reducing carbon emissions to actively supporting climate adaptation.
We support homeowners
Homeowners play a vital role in maintaining and improving Scotland’s housing—preserving heritage, enhancing amenities, and, crucially, integrating energy efficiency.
Loco Home helps households adapt to a changing climate by improving insulation, ensuring proper ventilation, and guiding upgrades that boost resilience to storms, heatwaves, and rising energy costs.
Our whole-home, fabric-first approach not only cuts emissions but also protects comfort, health, and wellbeing in a warming world.
As a trusted intermediary, Loco Home helps homeowners navigate their retrofit journey.
We support the local supply chain
Loco Home Retrofit is committed to strengthening the local supply chain because we believe the transition to low-carbon homes should also support local jobs, skills, and economies. We work closely with trusted local contractors, assessors, and installers—connecting them with homeowners and landlords in their communities.
By doing this, we help build long-term capacity for high-quality retrofit services in the region, keeping investment local and boosting community resilience. Supporting the local supply chain isn’t just practical—it’s a key part of building a fairer, more sustainable retrofit economy that benefits everyone.
We advocate for change
Climate change is already a threat to our buildings, many of which have significant heritage value. Stronger winds and more intense wind-driven rainfall make proper maintenance more important than ever.
Weather extremes such as the 2018 heat wave and the -10C cold snap in February 2021 make home comfort harder to achieve. These problems will continue to get worse until we stop burning oil, coal and gas.
Scotland’s international commitments to achieving net zero carbon emissions demand a revolution in almost every part of our lives. Decarbonising the ways in which we heat our homes is one the hardest parts of this challenge. The lowest overall cost to the taxpayer, bill payer and ‘home maintainer’ will come from a mixture of investments in both energy efficiency and renewables.
Responding to key updates in the Scottish Government’s 2025–26 Programme for Government, Chris Carus, Chief Executive of Loco Home Retrofit, welcomed some improvements but warns that 2045 is too late for full decarbonisation of heating and encourages the Scottish Government to signpost households to local one stop shops such as Loco Home.
Read Chris’s full response and article Scottish Government to simplify heat pump grant process
We are a co-op
Loco Home is building a diverse community with a shared focus: to end Glasgow’s contribution to climate change. Our members can share their experiences and expertise as well as connect with trusted local contractors for their retrofitting projects.
Join us – become a member
Chris Carus
Co-founder, CEO of Loco Home
MEng, MSc, Certified
Passive House Consultant, PAS2035 Retrofit Assessor,
AECB Carbonlite graduate, Heat Geek trained.
10 years prior experience of community engagement as Community Council chair.
18 years experience in industrialisation, QA, supply chains with Procter & Gamble.
Experienced project and business leader.
Jan Timmerman
Retrofit and EPC Assessor and Technical Advisor
Experienced architect with over 20 years in architectural
practice delivering projects from inception to completion.
Projects included retrofits for social housing clients. Jan is
now a Retrofit Assessor and has completed Level 5 Retrofit
Coordinator training with the Retrofit Academy. He is also an AECB
Carbonlite Retrofit graduate.
Angus Brodnax
Retrofit Coordinator, Assessor and Supply Chain Manager
Worked 8 years as a joiner and builder, focusing on low energy
buildings. 2023 MSc in Green Building from Centre for
Alternative Technology, specialising in Passive House
Planning Package energy modelling, which has since
informed improvements to Loco Home’s service. Accredited
Domestic Energy Assessor and Retrofit Assessor.
Responsible for our vetted contractor network.
Loco Home is involved in projects in partnership with industry, social landlords, local authorities and other stakeholders including the Scottish Government. These initiatives will expand the impact of existing fuel poverty programmes through education, engagement and intermediation between owners.
Our journey to one-stop-shop retrofit service
Loco Home Retrofit began with a vision: to make high-quality home retrofit simple, affordable, and accessible for everyone.
What started as a local service helping people in the south side of Glasgow make their homes more energy efficient, has grown into a trusted, one-stop service supporting homeowners and landlords across Greater Glasgow. Along the way, we’ve built a team of experts, refined our approach, and created a service that puts people and performance first.
We know that every home—and every household—is different. That’s why we offer tailored support. Whether you’re looking to invest in your home or need financial support to get started, we’re here to guide you through the journey.
From Whole Home Assessments and technical advice to quality-assured installations and low-carbon heating, we handle the hard part so you don’t have to. Our role is to bring together the right expertise, funding routes, and vetted, quality assured contractors—making it easier for you to create a warmer, more energy-efficient home.
Loco Home Retrofit is more than a service—it’s a movement for fair, future-ready homes. And we’re just getting started.
