NEWS UPDATE UPGRADES STRATEGY In Brief


● Key Integrated Services has launched TaskEnergy to provide sustainable energy services for local authorities and social housing providers. The company offers gas, low-carbon and compliance solutions, ranging from emergency callouts to turnkey projects. Laurence Coatsworth and Gareth Whyte will lead day-to-day operations.


● Babcock Wanson UK has released a new brochure outlining its expanded product portfolio and integrated solutions following strategic acquisitions. The publication details boilers, burners, electric and hybrid systems, and environmental and water treatment technologies, highlighting capabilities in energy efficiency, emissions reduction and process performance.


● Renewable energy company Low Carbon has signed two 15-year route-to-market Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 52 MW of contracted solar capacity with SSE Energy Markets. The energy will be generated from the Feldon Vale and Long Meadow solar farms, located in North West Wales and South East England, which are expected to enter commercial operations in 2026.


● The Hydrolution PRO air- cooled heat pump chiller range by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air Conditioning Europe has achieved Eurovent Certification under the LCPHP programme. The Eurovent Certified Performance programme under the Heat Pumps (Eurovent-HP) scope verifies performance for selected models across heat pump categories.


● Placing it in the top 5% of companies assessed, Collingwood Lighting has received an EcoVadis Gold sustainability rating. The assessment recognises environmental, ethical and sustainable business practices, including supply chain performance. The company said it is continuing to improve processes and products to reduce environmental impact.


● Kingspan and Zestec Renewable Energy have launched a funded solar roofing solution for commercial refurbishment projects, combining roof replacement or overcladding with integrated solar PV. The aim is to reduce upfront capital costs while improving energy performance, safety and compliance. The system uses insulated panels with integrated photovoltaics.


08


Warm Homes Plan finally gets the green light


Following two years of development, the government has unveiled its £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, aimed at reducing energy bills and upgrading millions of UK homes with low-carbon technologies and insulation measures. Homeowners will be able to access


low and zero-interest loans for solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, while low-income and fuel-poor households will receive fully funded upgrades backed by £5 billion of public investment. The government says it wants


to create a “rooftop revolution”, tripling the number of homes with solar installations. While heat pump installations are expected to rise under the plan, the government is now working towards an annual installation rate of around 450,000 by the end of the decade, well below earlier ambitions of 600,000 a year by 2028.


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The Plan also confirms an extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme through 2029/30, maintaining £7,500 grants for households switching from gas boilers to heat pumps. While these incentives remain in place, the government has not set a formal phase-out date for gas boilers. Protections for renters have also been


strengthened. An estimated 1.6m children live in accommodation affected by cold, damp or mould, and new regulations will require landlords to ensure homes are safe, warm and energy efficient. It is estimated that half a million families could be lifted out of fuel poverty over the next decade through these reforms. The Plan will also see the foundation


of a new Warm Homes Agency, which the government says will bring together existing functions from across the regulator and other government arms- length bodies, providing consumer protection while removing duplication and waste in the current delivery landscape. Despite the ambitious domestic


energy programme, some commentators have criticised the government for failing to address the concerns in the non- domestic sector, with no new policies


or funding commitments to support the decarbonisation of commercial buildings. The Building Controls Industry


Association (BCIA) points out that non- domestic buildings account for more than a third of total carbon emissions from the UK built environment, yet the sector continues to lack a comprehensive strategy to drive energy efficiency and decarbonisation at scale. The Climate Change Committee has repeatedly warned of a “large and increasingly concerning policy gap for non-residential buildings”, and has called for a clear, long- term plan to decarbonise the sector.


NHS Trusts make progress on net-zero but planning gaps remain


NHS Trusts across England are increasingly investing in technology and renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions, yet a significant number still lack clear strategies to meet the service’s net-zero targets. Freedom of Information data from 66 Trusts, released by Schneider Electric, shows marked progress in sustainability initiatives. About 64% of Trusts now use technology to monitor and optimise energy use, up from 48% in 2024, and the same proportion have upgraded building systems. A third have digitised electrical infrastructure, while 30% have adopted circular practices, such as refurbishing and redistributing medical equipment, up from 19%. Funding for decarbonisation projects has risen sharply. Almost nine in 10 Trusts (89%) received funding in 2025, compared with 67% in 2024. Investment priorities include solar panels and other renewable energy sources, adopted


Scotland set to introduce a multi- metric approach to EPCs


Energy Performance Certificates for Scottish commercial buildings are being overhauled, aiming to fundamentally change how these buildings are valued and marketed. Gone is the reliance solely on the


familiar single headline A to G rating. It is being replaced by a multi-metric approach that provides deeper insights into how a building actually performs. EPCs for non-domestic properties will also include two additional facets, going beyond the established energy


performance rating, which measures the theoretical efficiency of the building fabric and fixed building services. There will now also be an Energy Use


Rating, reflecting actual (or modelled for new build) energy demand, giving occupiers clearer insight into likely consumption levels. There will also be a Direct Emission Rating, focusing on carbon emissions associated with heating, cooling and energy use.


by 64%, up from 16%, while 53% upgraded HVAC systems. Energy-efficient technologies, such as LED lighting, have been installed by 68%, a 28% increase from 2024, and 9% have introduced training to encourage behavioural change. Despite these gains, there are still gaps in planning. One


in five (21%) lack a clear roadmap to meet net-zero targets, an improvement from 31% in 2024, and a similar proportion are not measuring their carbon footprint, down from 29%. Around 26% of Trusts remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with 90% of their energy coming from these sources. “We should be proud of the way in which Trusts are


embracing sustainability and making progress towards these targets. But with energy usage and rising costs major challenges for the NHS, there is still much work to be done,” says Alice Williams, Schneider Electric’s vice president for digital energy in the UK and Ireland.


Under the new arrangements, the established simple Property Report will be replaced by a Recommendation Report. This must include detailed potential improvement costs, estimated capital costs, running cost impacts, potential emissions reductions and alternative heating options. The Scottish government believes this will become a “strategic planning tool, informing capital expenditure programmes, ESG reporting and portfolio-wide decarbonisation strategies.”


Under the new regulations, the lifetime


validity of an EPC will be halved, from 10 to 5 years. The original EPC arrangement will continue in tandem with the new format up until October 2027, but only in limited circumstances.


EIBI | FEBRUARY 2026


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