38 Decarbonisation


Decarbonisation Feature


Meeting the sector’s decarbonisation goals


Robert Dreghorn at The Electric Heating Company outlines how electric heating solutions paired with effi ciency upgrades can help local authorities, housing associations and private landlords reduce carbon, cut bills and future proof homes.


H


eating UK homes remains a major source of emissions, placing social landlords at the centre of the country’s decarbonisation challenge. In 2021, domestic heating accounted for around 18% of


all UK greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the urgency for large portfolios to transition away from fossil fuels to low carbon alternatives that improve tenant outcomes and reduce operational risk for providers. Government policy is clear: grow low carbon heating markets rapidly and end the installation of new fossil-fuel boilers by 2035, while working toward net zero by 2050 and EPC Band C by 2030 in rented homes, milestones highly relevant to local authorities (LAs), housing associations (HAs) and private landlords managing diverse stock types. Electric heating, particularly heat pumps and complementary electric


systems, off ers a practical pathway to achieve these targets. Heat pumps commonly deliver over three units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed, making them substantially more effi cient than gas boilers and capable of cutting household carbon emissions by roughly 70% today, with even larger reductions as the grid continues to decarbonise. Beyond carbon metrics, electric solutions reduce exposure to volatile global gas prices, helping social landlords stabilise tenant energy costs while aligning with funding and compliance frameworks. For tenants, the benefi ts are immediate and tangible. Modelling using EPC


and English Housing Survey data indicates that upgrading social homes to EPC A–C could save residents an average of £567 per household per year, equating to more than £700m annually across the sector, material relief for those most exposed to fuel poverty. Warmer homes also deliver long term health gains. Cold, damp housing is linked to preventable illness and avoidable mortality, with the NHS bearing signifi cant costs each year; improving building fabric and deploying low carbon heating helps mitigate these impacts while enhancing comfort and control for residents. From an operational standpoint, electric heating simplifi es compliance


and reduces ongoing maintenance burdens. Unlike gas systems, electric technologies do not require annual gas safety checks and generally involve fewer moving components, which can lower reactive maintenance events and reduce disruption in tenanted properties. Installation is also well suited to retrofi t programmes in fl ats and high-rise blocks, where minimising invasive works and decanting is a priority. Historically, electric storage heaters became widespread in social stock due to straightforward installation and off -peak tariff s; while modern programmes should prioritise effi ciency led upgrades, this earlier adoption illustrates how electric approaches can be delivered at scale within constrained estates. Critically, the funding landscape now favours landlords who pursue whole-


house effi ciency and low carbon heat. T e Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) has progressed through multiple waves, allocating well over £1bn to improve homes below EPC C. By May 2025, more than 41,500 households had received measures such as insulation and heating upgrades, with almost all improved to EPC C or above where ratings were recorded, evidence that large portfolios can achieve meaningful effi ciency gains within current policy structures. Complementary schemes, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (grants up to £7,500 for heat pumps), further reduce capital barriers for


The funding landscape now favours landlords who pursue whole-house effi ciency and low carbon heat


qualifying properties, while proposed minimum standards aim to liſt renters into warmer, cheaper-to-run homes by 2030. T ere is also a growing opportunity to turn retrofi t investments into revenue.


Network initiatives such as UK Power Networks’ Flex Direct explore ways for social landlords to receive fl exibility payments by reducing or shiſt ing peak electricity demand. As estates adopt solar PV, batteries, and smart heating controls, aggregated fl exibility services can provide new income streams that off set upgrade costs and support grid stability, aligning landlord fi nances with broader system needs. A successful decarbonisation roadmap for social housing portfolios usually


starts with fabric-fi rst upgrades, loſt , cavity or solid wall insulation, airtightness and ventilation improvements – followed by deployment of electric heating systems tailored to property archetypes and local grid capacity. T e UK has already delivered millions of effi ciency measures across public schemes, and continuing this momentum will be key to achieving equitable outcomes, particularly for vulnerable tenants and off -gas communities. Smart controls


Housing Management & Maintenance Spring 2026


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52