Judith Leary-Joyce never planned to sell her home. She and her husband John have lived in their three-bedroom end-of-terrace Victorian house in St Albans for more than 50 years. It is the place where life happened, memories were made, and routines became traditions. But one part of the house had slowly turned into a problem they could no longer ignore.
The conservatory at the back of their home had become wasted space. In summer, it was unbearably hot. In winter, it was freezing cold. Instead of being a place to enjoy, it sat unused for most of the year, quietly leaking energy and money.
As energy bills continued to rise, Judith knew that moving to a newer, energy-efficient home was not realistic or desirable. Like many homeowners, she loved her location and her community. What she wanted was a smarter way to live better without packing up and leaving.
In 2020, Judith and John made a bold decision. They demolished the conservatory entirely and replaced it with a new, properly designed room. They knocked through into the kitchen to create one open, bright living space that could actually be used every day.
This was not a normal renovation. Judith was deeply worried about wasting energy in such a large space, so she hired an eco-architect rather than a standard builder. She wanted to make sure the work added comfort, not future problems.
A year later, the project grew into something much bigger. Judith began what is known as a “deep retrofit,” a full renovation designed to make an older property far more energy efficient. The result shocked even her. The value of their home increased by £90,000.
The changes were dramatic. The couple installed two sets of energy panels, cutting their energy use by around 75 percent. Their annual energy consumption dropped from 25,500kWh to just 6,000kWp. Their home energy rating jumped from a D to a strong B.
Judith, now 75 and an eco-renovation expert, says the transformation completely changed how they live. “We live in our extension now and barely use the front room,” she explains. “I thought what is the point of putting a new extension at the back of an old leaky house?”
Before the renovation, the kitchen was dark and unwelcoming. Because the house faces east to west, natural light struggled to reach the back. The new design solved that problem, turning the space into the heart of the home.
One of the biggest changes came from insulation. Judith added insulation to the walls and loft using wood fibre, a natural and breathable material. She believes this is something many homeowners are never told about.
“Many people don’t know but PIR — the standard insulation — is rigid and not breathable,” Judith says. For older homes, this can cause moisture problems and long-term damage. Wood fibre, she explains, allows the house to breathe while keeping it warm.
They also invested in a heat pump, another decision that required research and patience. Judith found that there were not enough experienced installers available, which made the process harder than expected.
Heat pumps work by heating the air in the home and keeping it at a steady temperature rather than blasting short bursts of heat. The result is a more comfortable living space and lower energy waste.
Judith admits she did not understand retrofit work at the beginning. “I didn’t understand retrofit, so I learned. I educated myself along this journey,” she says. That learning process became one of the most important parts of the project.
She quickly discovered that many builders are not trained in energy-efficient renovation. “Not many builders know about the different materials, especially if they’ve only worked a certain way,” Judith explains. For her, success depended on finding professionals willing to listen and adapt.
“It is about finding the right builder who will work with you,” she says. That partnership made all the difference between a standard extension and a future-proof home.
Judith’s motivation goes beyond saving money. She has worried about the climate for as long as she can remember. For her, the renovation was not just about comfort, but responsibility.
“I wanted to create a home, a legacy to leave behind for future generations,” she says. The house is now warmer, healthier, and far cheaper to run, while also being kinder to the environment.
The journey changed Judith’s life so much that she decided to share what she learned. Last month, she published her second book, What the Builder Won’t Tell You – The Essential Homeowners Guide to an Energy Efficient, Healthy Home.
The book is a practical guide for homeowners who want warmer homes, better health, and lower bills without being misled or overwhelmed. It explains the materials, the choices, and the mistakes to avoid.
Judith believes many people could improve their homes instead of moving, if they had honest information. Her story shows that smart renovation can add huge value, both financially and emotionally.
By questioning standard building practices and educating herself, she turned a cold, inefficient house into a modern, comfortable home. And she did it without leaving the place she loved.
Her message is simple but powerful. You do not always need a new house. Sometimes, you just need to know what the builders won’t tell you.
