“a source of extraordinary knowledge”
After four years of running our successful Housewarming Programme, we have revised the content to include more on keeping cool in summer. To reflect this, we have changed the name to the more appropriate ‘Our Future Homes’. Our web pages are currently being updated accordingly.
Our Future Homes Programme aims to help homeowners prepare their homes for the future. This includes cutting energy use to meet net zero targets, phasing out fossil fuels, making homes heat-pump ready, and maintaining a comfortable temperature in both winter and summer.
We run events and have been providing a set of guides (see below) to help navigate the overwhelming amount of information, build greater understanding of the options available and help homeowners to identify the right steps for their homes. According to one recent participant, our courses have been a “source of extraordinary knowledge”.
Our Future Homes course: Guidance to help you future-proof your home (starting in Jan 2027)
Considering a warmer home upgrade or wanting to keep cool in summer? Thinking about a heat pump? Searching for ways to cut your bills? Not sure where to start? Low Carbon Oxford North’s face-to-face Our Future Homes course is here to help you navigate information and options and work out the best course of action for you.
LCON is running the next Our Future Homes course starting in January 2027.
The timetable below gives an idea of the topics covered on the course. We cover options, choices, risks and language across the core home retrofit areas.
Dates/times: Tuesdays, 7.30 pm – 9 pm
- 26 January: Crafting your plan
- 2 February: Insulation
- 9 February: Windows and Doors, Draughts and Ventilation
- 16 February: Heating, Cooling, and Solar
- 23 February: Case Studies
Venue: Woodstock Road Baptist Church | Oxford OX2 7NQ
Each session will be a mix of presentations and group discussion. Register by contacting philippa.oconnor@lcon.org.uk. Places are limited, and those reserving places are booked onto all five sessions. Suitable for both novices and those more experienced in retrofitting. Admission free, donations welcome!
Download the Our Future Homes poster (PDF) here.
- Novices and more experienced all welcome
- Independent, expert information and guidance
- Build your knowledge step-by-step
- Peer support and networking
- Warm and welcoming group meetings
- Run by homeowners with retrofit experience
Supported by Low Carbon Hub.
Previous Housewarming Guides
LCON produced a series of seven Housewarming Guides to support people who want to improve their homes. These guides, prepared by independent experts, walk through the options, considering key questions for each stage of any plans to ensure they will work for you and your home.
Previous participants have said:
“A very helpful introduction and overview of how to approach the retrofitting of a home.”
“The presenters were excellent and approachable and always willing to help”
“Honest and accurate information delivered in a friendly environment.”
“enormously helpful to hear from others who have either “started the journey” or had completed an entire project.”
Looking for inspiration?
If you’re just starting to think about eco-renovation and want to find out a bit more first, you may want to take a look at the Energy Saving Homes bite-size films (2-4 minutes each), showing how home owners have put in place different measures to reduce their energy consumption and make their homes warmer in winter. The films cover similar topics to our Guides.
Hire a thermal imaging camera
One of the things a householder may want to do in the process of building a retrofit plan is to see where the heat is leaking out. We can see the contrast between the well-insulated bits of our homes and the leaky parts with the help of a thermal imaging camera. You can hire a camera for £20.00 for half a week from the Library of Things, SHARE Oxford.
Keep up to date
If you would like to be notified of future events, contact the Our Future Homes (formerly ‘Housewarming’) Coordinator, philippa.oconnor@lcon.org.uk or join our mailing list.
