Tactical Energy Systems

Tactical Energy Systems: home energy retrofit in Derby

Tactical Energy Systems is an energy efficiency company based in Borrowash, Derby, working across the East Midlands and approaching home energy improvement from a whole-house perspective. Its activity focuses on retrofit, that is, the retrospective application of energy efficiency technology to an already built home, with the aim of reducing energy demand and meeting heating and hot water needs more efficiently.

The company was founded by Ben Foster MBE, a British Army veteran, and presents itself as a trusted partner for homeowners who want to reduce their energy bills, lower their carbon footprint and improve the comfort of their home. In a sector that the company itself describes as confusing and prone to misleading practices, Tactical Energy Systems emphasises transparency, honesty and advice based on concrete data, without aggressive sales tactics.

What energy retrofit includes

According to the company's information, retrofit covers measures to reduce energy demand, such as insulation, draught exclusion and low-energy lighting, as well as solutions to meet heating and hot water needs through gas boilers, solar generation and heat pumps. The result the company associates with these actions is lower dependence on the national grid, greater resilience to price fluctuations and a more consistent, comfortable temperature throughout the home.

The company also notes that better ventilation and reduced moisture can help improve certain respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and that improving energy efficiency has a lasting impact that goes beyond the owner's own lifetime.

Working methodology

Tactical Energy Systems' process is structured in three phases. First, it carries out a detailed energy efficiency survey of the home and a consultation with the client about their goals; the advice is based on a thorough assessment of the building and how its occupants live in it, and identifies defects that could affect the project's performance.

Second, it uses energy modelling software to draw up a plan tailored to each home and explores the different system and material options available, so that the owner can make an informed choice between insulation types, system manufacturers and key construction details.

Third, it takes on the full installation of the project, with open communication and explanation of the new energy efficiency systems to the client. The company describes its delivery approach as collaborative, with detailed planning and particular attention to workmanship quality.

Founder profile and credentials

Ben Foster MBE, founder of Tactical Energy Systems, served for 16 years as an officer in the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers, where he managed engineering and construction projects. Among the work the company highlights are support for water and sanitation infrastructure in remote parts of Kenya, collaboration with the NHS on the construction of the Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate and various infrastructure projects in the Middle East. He also has experience as a main contractor and building services design engineer at large construction firms.

In the field of domestic retrofit, he is accredited by Trustmark as a retrofit assessor and coordinator, with experience on projects in different parts of the UK, including listed properties. He holds an MSc in Construction Engineering and is a chartered member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The company states that he lives in Borrowash, where he is renovating his own 1960s terraced house to make it as efficient as possible.

Property types and long-term approach

Tactical Energy Systems works with a wide variety of properties and offers advice on the full spectrum of energy efficiency improvements and their suitability according to the type of home and construction, so that measures are appropriate and installed correctly. The company also sets out phased plans to join up and sequence multiple improvements, so that installation is more efficient and the actions complement each other.

Collaboration with other professionals

The company declares itself open to collaborating with different trades, such as plasterers, carpenters, electricians and heating engineers, whether individual professionals or organisations interested in working with Tactical Energy Systems.

Location and contact

Borrowash, Derby · Phone: +44 7356 091 808 · Email: ben@tacticalenergy.co.uk