CASE STUDY

Octopus Capital

Green lending with data-driven home retrofit plans

Octopus Capital, part of certified B Corp Octopus Investments, is a leading UK real estate investor and lender with a strong focus on sustainability.

The firm is partnering with Kamma to accelerate decarbonisation across its residential portfolio using its home energy saving tool, Retrofit Explorer.

testimonial video

the story

Seemless retrofit education and decisions

the challenge

Incentivising homeowners to retrofit

Octopus Capital has successfully embedded sustainability into new developments, like the Greener Homes Alliance, which funds EPC A or B builds.

But influencing existing homes is harder – the team finances properties but doesn’t control upgrades.

To support decarbonisation, they must motivate borrowers to retrofit.

The challenge? Overcoming cost barriers and proving the value.

the solution

Educate consumers on cost optimisation

Products alone aren’t enough to drive borrowers to make home improvements.

To drive uptake, Octopus needed to clearly communicate the benefits: lower bills, greater comfort, longer tenancies, and higher property values.

To support this, they embedded a white-labelled version of Kamma’s Retrofit Explorer into their new green lending hub – making retrofitting clearer and easier to act on.

The impact

Consumers informed on full retrofit journey

Data accuracy – Powered by Kamma’s EPC and emissions dataset, delivering more reliable insights than tools using only EPCs or user-reported data.

Cost-optimised plans – Highlights low-cost, high-impact measures to meet goals like EPC C, avoiding overwhelming, expensive recommendations.

Retrofit ROI – Clearly presents upfront costs alongside expected energy savings and property value uplift to showcase return on investment.

Installer connection – Links users with local Trustmark-accredited installers to help turn plans into action seamlessly.

why kamma

Supporting brokers and borrowers to retrofit

“We don’t want to just reward ‘buying well’ when it comes to energy efficient homes, with a green mortgage that gives preferential rates to homes that are already efficient.

We want to create real impact by educating customers on the benefits of retrofit and giving them financial incentives to make improvements.”

Steve Matthew, Head of Residential Lending

“Retrofit Explorer has given us the conversation starter we need to sell borrowers and brokers on the benefits of retrofit.

The tool enables them to quickly get an accurate view of not only the measures needed and their cost, but also the benefits in terms of EPC rating, energy bills, and property valuation.

It also clearly guides users on how to turn the plan into action by connecting with local installers who can deliver the work needed.”

Steve Matthew, Head of Residential Lending