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Low carbon buildings
From vehicles to heating, new electric technologies will be crucial to our decarbonisation success, according to Ambion Heating chief executive Oliver Baker
O
ver the last 12 months, we have seen the announcement of several important government policies and strategies that all
point to one common fact – if we are going to hit the UK’s Net Zero by 2050 target, it will require the mass electrification of many aspects of our lives. This is particularly true when it comes to
‘greening’ the UK’s housing stock. For new builds, there is a clear deadline that properties should be ‘zero carbon ready’ by 2025 under the Future Homes Standard, and in December 2021, the Government announced changes to its Building Regulations, stating that carbon emissions from new build homes must be around 30% lower than current standards. While some commentators have argued that they don’t go far enough, these new regulations will come into effect from June 2022, with the idea that it will ensure all future homes will not have to be retrofitted to be net zero ready. However, for the vast majority of the UK’s existing housing stock, there is a major retrofitting job to do, particularly when it comes to choosing which heating system will be the most appropriate for each property. When the UK Green Building Council published its ‘Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap’, it called for the publication of a National Retrofit Strategy by 2022. This would set out a clear national homes upgrade programme to 2040 via a Central Retrofit Agency, as well as mandatory minimum EPC C ratings for owner-occupied homes, and ‘a clear trajectory for improving the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for the domestic rented sector to at least EPC C’, both by 2028. Heating is a major part of the jigsaw to achieving these targets, so low-carbon systems need to be deployed sooner rather than later. However, this is easier said than done. The UK has a hugely diverse housing stock, so there is no one-size fits all solution. While the headlines have been on air source heat pumps (ASHPs), in reality, it will take a broad range of technologies to meet the Government’s ambitious targets. For example, heat pumps aren’t realistic for
around 40% of properties, which represents eight to
Why choice will be crucial to Net Zero
Left: Oliver Baker, Ambion Heating chief executive
This control system completely replaces old- technology thermostats, using AI and computer algorithms to optimise energy use. This reduces both energy consumption and carbon emissions while maintaining a warm, comfortable heat. CCIR also drives efficiencies across a wide range of properties, including old, less thermally efficient buildings.
12 million homes. So, while a recent government- sponsored report concluded that ASHPs were suitable for all properties, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best choice, particularly when it comes to heating properties such as flats or those with low thermal efficiency. Therefore, it is important that all electric heating solutions are considered for a low-carbon transition that is accessible for all. One of these is computer-controlled infrared heating (CCIR), which can overcome some of the limitations of ASHPs.
A low-carbon solution fit for all
CCIR provides heat-pump levels of energy efficiency at lower cost and across all property types. It uses 60% less electricity than conventional electric heating by combining the power of infrared with a state-of-the-art computer-control system.
In addition, CCIR systems are easier to install, whether they’re being retrofitted into an existing building or installed within a new build, because they simply need wiring into the mains rather than plumbing in. CCIR also doesn’t require a huge amount of space – which can be an issue with ASHPs.
No one-size fits all solution for a Net Zero future
While there is a broad agreement that electric systems are the future of heating, the market knows that the key to the low-carbon heating transition is choice – whether that is based on affordability, availability or feasibility. Heat pumps are not, and should not be, the only option. While it may be feasible to install a heat pump in properties such as flats or terraces, it doesn’t mean it is necessarily the best choice for the property, tenant, homeowner or landlord. Therefore, the Government needs to ensure it is backing a wider range of technologies if we are to meet our Net Zero ambition.
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