NEWS UPDATE GROUND SOURCE
Tool kit for making heritage buildings fit for the future
The City of London Corporation has launched a new toolkit aimed at helping owners of historic buildings in the Square Mile cut carbon emissions and future-proof their properties against climate change. The guidance and strategies provide a structured process, drawing on latest guidance and good practice, and they can be employed for historic buildings across the UK. This toolkit seeks to empower
these building owners to initiate the adaptations necessary to reduce carbon emissions and build climate resilience, a key priority of the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, as it progresses toward a net-zero Square Mile by 2040. With more than 600 listed buildings, 28 conservation areas, 48 scheduled ancient monuments and four historic parks and gardens, the Square Mile’s heritage structures pose a significant retrofit challenge, given the diverse range of buildings and their specific planning and conservation considerations. The open-access toolkit provides
a nine-step methodology to enable building owners to confidently start the process of responsible retrofit, build a business case and deliver the necessary adaptations, in a way that protects these community assets. Chairman of the City of
London Corporation’s planning and transportation committee, Shravan Joshi, says: “It is vital we secure a sustainable future for our historic environment. Our ability to adapt our heritage buildings depends on developing a common understanding and promoting good practice of what can be achieved. This toolkit provides a structured approach to such collaboration. As the custodian of many heritage assets, the City Corporation itself is part of this journey and wants to share our own experiences and learn from others.” Access the guide on https://
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/ Services-Environment/Heritage- Buildings-Retrofit-Toolkit.pdf
10
University drills down on geothermal pilot scheme
The University of Warwick has announced plans to test supplying the campus with sustainable heat sourced from underground water reservoirs. SSE Energy Solutions is carrying out feasibility studies which involve drilling test boreholes on the university grounds. If successful, sub-surface ground water with a year- round consistent temperature could supply two ground source heat pump energy centres for both the University’s existing heat network and new developments on campus. The project involves tapping into
the earth’s natural thermal energy at depths of up to 350m. This could help the University achieve its 2030 net zero target by reducing the natural gas
currently burned to provide heat. As part of the study, SSE Energy Solutions is working with the University of Warwick to establish the best low- carbon solution, through technology selection and a phased, modular approach. In managing this feasibility project, SSE Energy Solutions hopes the eventual outputs could be replicable across other UK campuses if successful, helping the higher education sector to decarbonise more affordably.
Jody Pittaway, sector director
for Heat Networks at SSE Energy Solutions, says: “We have developed strong expertise in the long-term operation of large-scale open-loop heat pumps in the UK, and we are pleased to bring that expertise to our current feasibility study with the University of Warwick. These initial tests are a first step on the road to heat decarbonisation. They will give the university essential information to facilitate the energy centre design and help to deliver the University’s 2030 decarbonisation goals.”
Renewable energy surpasses gas in UK’s winter season
The UK generated more of its electricity from renewable sources than it did from gas in the winter period of 2023/2024, according to analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. The ECIU found that wind, hydro, and solar sources generated around 55 TWh of electricity, surpassing the 45 TWh generated by gas power stations. This means renewables accounted for 40% of power generation, with gas contributing around a third, and other sources (including nuclear and biomass) making up the remaining 25%. Generating the same amount of power using gas
power stations only would have required around 110 TWh more gas – the same amount needed to heat more than 9 million UK homes. “With or without new licenses, the North Sea will
continue its inevitable decline so we’ll need to import ever greater quantities of gas from abroad unless we cut our demand,” says Jess Ralston, head of energy at ECIU. “The price of gas is set by international markets so the choice for the UK is stark. Boost British renewables and achieve clean power or import more gas at a price we can’t control. Despite the good news on renewables now, if you look more broadly we’re heading backwards on energy independence. The government fumbled its last renewables auction securing no new offshore wind farms. It’s also set to agree only a limited number in the next auction round because of Treasury’s odd rules. It has also just delayed the rollout of heat pumps which can run on electricity from British offshore wind, rather than boilers that will increasingly have to run on foreign gas.”
Research into the customer experience of installing solar panels
New research from Halifax reveals that solar panels are delivering beyond expectations for many homeowners, with 57% reporting that they are saving more than anticipated on their energy bills. According to the survey of 2,000 homeowners, rising energy bills are now their number one concern, with almost half (49%) citing this as a key challenge – and the strongest trigger for making energy improvements to their properties (39%). Over half (56%) say they have
recently adapted their home, through measures such as adding insulation, double glazing or solar panels. Those who have installed solar
seen an improvement in their home’s energy efficiency through an updated EPC with an improved rating. Savings of around £400-500 per
year could be made on energy bills by transitioning to solar power, according to Energy Saving Trust estimates. Those who install solar panels can
panels report strong benefits, with almost all (89%) of those who have them being glad they’d installed them. A similar proportion said they would recommend them to their friends and family (83%), and over four in five (84%) said they’d seen a reduction in their energy bills. Furthermore, over half (51%) have
also financially benefit from excess energy, receiving payments or giving energy back to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Andrew Asaam, homes director
at Halifax, says: “Transitioning to solar power can be a fantastic option to help reduce bills over the long- term, especially when combined with a home battery or other energy efficient measures such as the right loft insulation and energy saving light bulbs.”
EIBI | APRIL 2024
For all the latest news stories visit
www.eibi.co.uk
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
