Ending Retrofit’s Rollercoaster: Jack Allen on Wave 3 Funding, PAS 2035 & Truly Warm Homes
May 6, 2025
Strap in for a straight‑talking, myth‑busting tour of Britain’s retrofit frontline. Host Matt Milloy sits down with Jack Allen-founder of Building Energy Experts and one of the sector’s sharpest building‑physics brains-to expose why PAS 2035 compliance, airtightness testing and real‑world performance data beat “best‑guess” modelling every time .
Jack pulls no punches about the boom‑and‑bust “Wave” funding fiasco that’s left contractors gasping for air-and explains how the three‑year Warm Homes Wave 3 pot could finally steady the ship if policymakers stop dithering . He calls out the perverse incentives that splash £30k on external wall insulation while ignoring dirt‑cheap airtightness fixes, and argues that councils should fund expertise first and measures second to unlock real value for money .
But this episode isn’t just policy talk. Jack drops jaw‑dropping stats-25 k excess cold‑home deaths, 30 k pollution deaths every year-and shows how a cosy, ventilated, heat‑pump‑powered home can slash bills and asthma attacks alike . His rallying cry? Open‑house programmes, bacon‑butty bribes and a “take‑the‑gloves‑off” marketing push to get the next 20 % of Brits to see, feel and want the retrofit revolution .
If you’re ready for unfiltered insights, fearless advocacy and a roadmap to truly warm, healthy homes, this is the episode to queue up now.
- Building Energy Experts focuses on energy efficiency and sustainability.
- Jack Allen transitioned from consultancy to hands-on building performance.
- Decarbonizing social housing faces funding and operational challenges.
- The private sector requires certainty for sustainable investments.
- Funding waves create boom and bust cycles for businesses.
- Cost effectiveness of retrofit assessments is crucial for success.
- Public perception of retrofit needs improvement for wider acceptance.
- Climate change impacts are often underestimated by the public.
- Advocacy for retrofit must be more assertive and relatable.
- Community engagement is key to driving behavioral change in sustainability.