INDUSTRY COMMENT
Retrofit failure could spark new energy crisis, warns BESA
both public and private sector organisations were “burying their heads in the sand” and failing to meet their energy efficiency and carbon reduction responsibilities. The Ridge report: ‘The Role of Retrofitting our Non- Domestic Buildings in the Race to Net Zero’ found that just one in four public or private sector organisations had invested in making their buildings more sustainable and just one in 10 had a retrofitting budget. Most had ambitious Net Zero plans, but few included the energy performance of their building. Researchers spoke to 101 property and facilities bosses and concluded that the problem was at board level. Retrofitting to improve energy efficiency was seen as a low priority for 86% of building managers, according to the report, and 23% of the people managing buildings in the largest companies had not been involved in any form of Net Zero planning. They also hugely underestimated the rate at which buildings were replaced in the UK. Over a third told researchers that fewer than 39% of the UK’s current building stock would still be in use by 2050, but it is likely to be more than 70%.
Ridge partner Matt Richards said: “Vast swathes of UK
A collective failure to retrofit commercial buildings to meet Net Zero targets threatens to ignite a new energy crisis, according to the Building Engineering Services Association(BESA). Reacting to a hard hitting new report from the property and construction consultant Ridge and Partners, BESA said
organisations are sleep walking towards a building crisis. Too many organisations appear to assume that come 2050 our existing building stock will have been replaced with more efficient new buildings, but this simply isn’t the case. The bulk of buildings we see around us will still be in use.” BESA’s technical director Graeme Fox said the report’s findings were shocking as they revealed a huge lack of
awareness among the people who had the power to make our built environment more sustainable and resilient. “This shows that there is a lot of talk about Net Zero and corporate flannel about sustainability but when it comes to taking action many are not investing in the most obvious and straightforward measures,” he said. “Retrofitting existing buildings can be done at speed and more cost-effectively than some of the grandiose ‘statement’ measures being proposed by some organisations,” added Fox. “If they are serious about energy security and protecting themselves from another price shock, they should be retrofitting now.” The Ridge report concluded that the government could
do more to make retrofitting financially attractive with 52% of facilities managers calling for refurbishments to be VAT free. Almost half added that business rates discouraged investment in retrofit and a similar number called for financial incentives. There were a few ‘retrofit myths’ exposed including a high number saying they would not need to do anything to improve their building if the grid was carbon neutral and 24% arguing that retrofitting would not make a significant difference to their carbon footprint. “We clearly need to make a stronger business case for building retrofit,” added Fox. “FMs are struggling to get the message through to board rooms that this is an area which would not only make a huge difference to their ‘green’ corporate credentials but also significantly reduce their running costs.”
Green Heat Network Fund awards over £91 million to decarbonise buildings
Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management has announced that seven low carbon heat networks have secured offers of funding from the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF). Schemes in East London, Bradford, Rotherham, Cornwall, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and Reading have secured a £91 million share of the fund. The GHNF provides grant support for the development of new and existing low and zero carbon heat networks in England, which will provide long-term sustainable and energy-efficient heating and hot water for residents, whilst helping to reduce consumer’s energy bills. A range of technologies will be deployed highlighting the versatility of heat networks and their applicability to any number of different use cases.
The funding will support a vast array of low carbon technologies including waste heat extraction from energy centres and biomass plants, ground source and air source heat pumps as well as the UK’s first deep geothermal
project. It is expected that the use of this innovative heat source will provide a blueprint for others to follow. Each of the networks have been designed to address sustainable, low-carbon transitions at a local level, supporting communities and businesses whilst collectively driving the UK towards its 2050 Net Zero target. Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: “The UK is a world leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions – but we must continue to push the boundaries to reach our Net Zero goal. These innovative projects will not only benefit the communities they serve, by reducing emissions and providing low-cost heating that helps to drive down energy bills, but also support the nation’s push for greater energy security and independence. They form part of our energy revolution – creating hundreds of new jobs for our ever-expanding green economy.”
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BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JUNE 2023 5
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