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Published on June 26th 2025

Ken Ross, a retired lawyer, has recently had his property surveyed by ReFLEX’s Kim Dobrzynski and Christina Copland; hear what Ken had to say about his experience with ReFLEX’s Building Retrofit Plan service.

In January of 2025, ReFLEX Orkney launched a new pilot service that supports Orcadian homeowners and businesses in better understanding their energy usage and improving the energy efficiency of their properties.

The service offers advice on a range of low-carbon options, including insulation, heating, solar and batteries to make homes more efficient and affordable to run. Using information from a home assessment including the use of thermal imaging, property questionnaires, and conversations with the property owner, the ReFLEX team creates a medium-term step-by-step route-map. The Building Retrofit Plan (BRP) presents potential options to improve the property.

The pilot service, funded by Innovate UK through the Rural Energy Hubs project, offers a limited number of surveys at a discounted rate of up to 50%. ReFLEX has completed 18 surveys so far.

Published 26/06/25

Why did you choose to use our service and get a Building Retrofit Plan?

I wanted to get more information – to find out about what options are out there and what would be suitable for this property.

I haven’t done much work on the property, but I suppose I have a lot of background knowledge. You get a bit bombarded with these things, all the information about emissions and energy, so you pick up a bit about it over time. But I was really interested in what would be best for this property – having something that’s a bit more tailored rather than the general information that’s out there.

What was the standout bit of the service? Is there a part of the plan that you’ve found particularly useful?

The whole lot - I know that sounds a bit vague, but I’m interested in as much information as I can get my hands on. I was interested in things like air source heat pumps, but now I’m thinking the best thing I can do is to insulate the foundations or underfloor insulation. It was all great information. The plan gave me rough guide prices for the work that’s recommended, and firms I could get in touch with.

It was all great information. The plan gave me rough guide prices for the work that’s recommended, and firms I could get in touch with.

I’m interested in the smaller changes because I’m in my late 70s and don’t want too much upheaval. The two things I’m now taking up on are replacing my rear window – I found out that it lets a lot of air through – and replacing my back door.

Do you think the service is good value for money?

Oh yes, very much so, especially when I got it for half price as well! Not a bad deal at all!

How would you describe your experience with ReFLEX?

Oh, excellent. The whole operation - what can I say? Professional, high-standard, fantastic. It's not often I can praise something to the ceiling, but I can certainly praise my experience with ReFLEX. It was all very efficient. I got in touch with ReFLEX, two or three weeks later and that was it completed. I was really pleasantly surprised – especially here in Orkney, sometimes you can wait forever for things to happen.

Oh, excellent. The whole operation - what can I say? Professional, high-standard, fantastic. It's not often I can praise something to the ceiling, but I can certainly praise my experience with ReFLEX.

I can't praise Kim and Christina highly enough.

I can't praise Kim and Christina highly enough. I didn't know what I was expecting but I suppose I thought I'd be getting a hard sell – it was nothing like that whatsoever. Sometimes you go into these things and you're a wee bit negative; you wonder, ‘What they going to try and sell me?’, but [Kim and Christina] were nothing like that whatsoever. I really enjoyed the whole experience.

What advice would you give someone looking to make improvements to their home?

Get a retrofit plan. I think it’s excellent!

Get a retrofit plan. I was just looking for general advice, but even if you’re looking for something more specific – I’d certainly get in touch with ReFLEX and get Kim or Christina out to seek their advice or get a plan.

All the information is in there, about solar panels and air source heat pumps – and who to get in touch with and an indication of costs. It's nice that it's all there in one place, you don't have to go looking for it. I think it’s excellent! I’ll certainly be passing on the report to whoever purchases my house.

Would you recommend our service to friends and family?

I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the service to family and friends; it was a great experience and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Get in touch

Start your journey to a more energy-efficient home by getting in touch with our team:

Telephone: +44(0)1856 480008

Email: info@reflexorkney.co.uk

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Published on June 26th 2025
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