Energy Efficiency for Older and Traditional Buildings

Gain a National Open College Network Level 3 qualification in energy efficiency for older and traditional buildings.

Duration

30 hours, including 21 guided learning hours at the Engine Shed over three days

Cost

£595, including NOCN enrolment and exam fee

Discounts

You may be eligible for a £240 Short Qualification Grant from the Construction Industry Training Board.

Short qualification grant

2027 courses

Three days from Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 February 2027, 9am to 4.45pm

Book tickets (February)

Three days from Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 May 2027, 9am to 4.45pm

Book tickets (May)

Three days from 14 September to Thursday, 16 September 2027, 9am to 4.45pm

Book tickets (September)

The tutor Moses Jenkins presenting to learners.

The two tutors and course manager posing next to a display of traditional materials.

Three learners looking at a presentation slide of 'Impact of condensation'.

The tutor Lila Angelaka presenting to a room with eight learners sitting at two rows of tables.

A learner reading a printed version of the course handbook. The title page includes a picture of a row of traditional houses.

The tutor Lila Angelaka pointing at a slide while presenting.

Four learners sitting at a table, taking notes and listening.

A person is holding the publication 'Guide to Energy Efficiency' and examining the model of a traditional roof in the Engine Shed.

Why take this course?

As demand grows for retrofit skills in older and traditional buildings, understanding how to improve energy efficiency while managing risks has never been more important.

This accredited National Open College Network (NOCN) Level 3 course will help you:

identify suitable energy efficiency measures
assess their appropriateness
develop practical recommendations for their application in traditional buildings
gain a recognised qualification in energy efficiency

The course is delivered by Historic Environment Scotland experts, who have lead the way by demonstrating the best practice in the retrofit of traditional buildings over the past decade through research, practical projects, technical guidance and training delivery.

Course details

The qualification requires 30 hours of total learning, including 21 guided learning hours.

To achieve the total learning time, you will complete:

pre-course reading
three days of classroom-based learning at the Engine Shed
a one-hour remote assessment

You must attend all three course days. The programme will be sent to candidates ahead of the course delivery.

Read NOCN Course Specifications for full qualification details.

Who this course is for

This course is designed for anyone aged 18 and over who:

already has a background in the construction sector
work, or intent to work, on the energy retrofit of traditional buildings

To take part in the course, you must demonstrate proof that you meet these minimum requirements. Your application will be assessed by our course assessors to assure your suitability for the course.

You will also need access to a personal computer for the assessment on an agreed day after the course.

Meet the tutors

A person with a closely shaved head and moustache, wearing a checked black and green shirt standing outside a building with a tree behind them

A portrait of Lila Angelaka in a formal pose, standing in front of masonry wall.

A portrait of Moses Jenkins, while he is giving an animated talk behind a lectern.

Yasser Battikha is Retrofit Skills and Innovation Manager at Historic Environment Scotland. He specialises in energy retrofit for traditional buildings and has led projects focused on improving the performance of traditional windows, doors and rainwater goods. Yasser holds a Master's degree in Architectural Conservation from the University of Edinburgh and a B.Sc. in Architectural Engineering from Damascus University.

Lila Angelaka is a Senior Technical Officer at Historic Environment Scotland. She specialises in energy efficiency retrofit, climate change adaptation and building performance in traditional and historic buildings. She provides technical advice, guidance and training across the sector. Lila holds an MSc in Architectural Conservation from the University of Edinburgh and a degree in Architectural Engineering in Building Conservation and Restoration.

What you'll learn

Unit 1

Recognising the age, nature and characteristics of older and traditional buildings

Unit 1 Learning Outcomes

By the end of Unit 1, you will:

1. Be able to establish the age of a building, to identify a building of traditional construction and to understand the implications for the introduction of energy efficiency measures.
2. Be able to identify the heritage and significance of a building.
3. Be able to explain how conservation principles are applied to older and traditional buildings.
4. Be able to identify the construction of older and traditional buildings, their performance and the materials used.
5. Be able to identify the types of heating and ventilation systems in the building and the implications these have on the introduction of energy efficiency measures.
6. Be able to explain the implications of common building defects for energy efficiency measures.
7. Be able to refer to a specialist or recommend further analysis or investigation when required.

Unit 2

Evaluate the options for introducing energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings

Unit 2 Learning Outcomes

By the end of Unit 2, you will:

1. Be able to identify the range of energy efficiency measures relevant to older and traditional buildings.
2. Be able to assess the implications of the existing building condition and defects and how the repairs affect the choice of energy efficiency measures.
3. Be able to assess the implications of occupant behaviour for proposed energy efficiency measures.
4. Be able to assess the implications of the relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
5. Be able to assess the technical risks associated with the energy efficiency measures and how to mitigate the risks.
6. Be able to explain Energy Performance Certificates and their limitations and the impact of using default U-values and identify alternative sources of U-values.
7. Be able to evaluate the options for the introduction of energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings.

Unit 3

Make recommendations and provide advice on the introduction of energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings

Unit 3 Learning Outcomes

By the end of Unit 3, you will:

1. Be able to make recommendations and give advice on introducing energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings.
2. Be able to review a range of information sources and refine the proposed energy efficiency measures for older and traditional buildings.
3. Be able to prepare reports and plans including recommendations and providing advice on the introduction of energy efficiency measures for older and traditional buildings.
4. Be able to describe the implications of the relevant legal and regulatory requirements for the installation of energy efficiency measures in older and traditional buildings.
5. Be able to justify the recommended energy efficiency measures.
6. Be able to explain the requirements for the delivery of energy efficiency measures in a retrofit project.

After you've booked a place

Once you’ve booked your place on the course, we'll issue you with an application form. You must complete and return this to us, along with a copy of your current CV, within the allocated deadline. We will use these documents to assess whether you meet the course entry requirements. We will retain all required documents on our system for quality assurance audits by the awarding body, NOCN. If you don't meet the entry requirements, we will withdraw your application and issue you a full refund.
If you decide to withdraw from the course up to two weeks prior to the course start for any other reason than not meeting the entry requirements, we will issue a refund minus the Eventbrite registration fee (£49). If you decide to withdraw from the course within two weeks prior to the course start, we will issue a refund minus £85 which covers the Eventbrite registration fee (£49) and the NOCN registration fee (£36).