The Welsh Retrofit Programme – Explained
Upgrade Your Shower. Future-Proof Your Home.
Wales is making a major shift towards more sustainable, efficient homes. Water and energy use are now central to how homes are assessed, upgraded, and regulated, and bathrooms (especially showers) are a key part of that picture.
The Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) is a Welsh Government initiative designed to help existing homes reduce carbon emissions, lower running costs, and prepare for a future where efficiency is no longer optional.
Kelda’s eco-friendly showers are fully eligible under this programme and recognised within Appendix Q of the UK government’s Standard Assessment Procedure and the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure
What Is the Optimised Retrofit Programme?
In simple terms, the Optimised Retrofit Programme supports step-by-step improvements to homes across Wales. Rather than one disruptive overhaul, ORP encourages practical upgrades over time that make homes more comfortable, cheaper to run, and significantly more sustainable.
Since 2020, more than £260 million has been invested through ORP, with social housing leading the way. These homes act as a real-world testing ground, helping the Welsh Government identify which technologies and materials genuinely work – before they become standard across private homes and rental properties.
Why Water-Efficient Showers Matter
Showers are one of the highest users of both water and energy in the average household. As Wales prepares for increasing pressure on water supplies and tighter energy efficiency standards, inefficient fittings are quickly becoming outdated.
Upgrading showers now is not just about comfort. It is about protecting homes against future regulation, rising utility costs, and water scarcity while improving daily life at the same time.
Kelda’s showers use Air-Powered Technology to deliver a shower that is 15x more powerful, with 2.5x larger water droplets, creating a fuller, more satisfying spray while using 55% less water and energy than conventional showers. This combination of efficiency and performance is exactly the kind of innovation the Optimised Retrofit Programme was designed to support, helping to reduce running costs and future-proof homes.
Additionally, Kelda’s Air-Powered™ showers can be accurately modelled within SAP calculations using Appendix Q, ensuring their real-world efficiency is properly recognised.
A Kelda shower helps homes to:
– Reduce overall water consumption without sacrificing pressure
– Use less hot water, lowering energy demand and bills
– Meet modern efficiency expectations under Welsh housing standards
Rather than asking for compromise, Kelda proves that sustainability can enhance comfort, not limit it.
Kelda - Built for the Future
The Welsh Government has been clear that future homes must be smarter, more efficient, and better prepared for environmental challenges. This includes stricter expectations around water use, energy performance, and carbon reduction.
By upgrading to a Kelda eco-friendly shower, you are investing in technology that already aligns with the direction of future UK laws. It supports long-term sustainability goals while helping to future-proof properties against upcoming laws and standards.
More Than a Grant. A Smarter Upgrade
ORP is designed to show what works now, so that successful solutions can be rolled out more widely in the years ahead. Kelda’s showers have been developed with this future in mind, offering a practical, scalable upgrade that delivers real benefits today. Upgrading the shower is one of the simplest and most effective changes you can make.
Kelda’s eco-friendly showers help reduce water and energy use while delivering a premium shower experience that feels indulgent, not restrictive.
Support a more sustainable Wales.
Future-proof homes, today.
In Summary
- The Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) supports practical upgrades that reduce water use, energy demand and carbon emissions in Welsh homes.
- Showers play a major role in household water and energy consumption, making them a smart place to upgrade.
- Keldas’ eco-friendly showers are fully eligible under the programme.
- Kelda’s showers deliver a luxurious experience while using up to 55% less water and energy.
- Upgrading now helps future-proof homes against upcoming regulations around water scarcity and energy efficiency.
Want to Learn More?
To find out how Kelda can help you with your projects, get in touch today.
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