When it comes to Net Zero, the winds of change are upon us, but we still face an uphill battle with public buildings. With no statutory targets and obstacles remaining, total decarbonisation by 2050 could prove difficult. Here, Scott Conor, Founder, and Chief Technical Officer at Trust Electric Heating delves into the challenges we face ahead of public sector decarbonisation.
For the UK to meet Net Zero targets, the decarbonisation of local authority buildings is paramount. Given the size and occupancy of most of these buildings, reducing their carbon footprint would have a significant impact on Britain’s road to Net Zero.
The government has provided substantial incentives to support public buildings in their transition towards Net Zero. Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which came into effect in 2021, is providing £1.425 billion in funding to support the reduction of carbon emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037. In addition, schools, hospitals, and other public buildings were allocated £530 million.
Challenges with stock and legislation
While funding is a step forward, the practicalities of decarbonising public buildings remain complex.
The first problem is the building stock itself. More than 39% of non-residential buildings were constructed before 1970, when public knowledge on energy efficiency was limited. These buildings were often fabricated with single-pane windows, a lack of insulation, thermal bridging, and poor airtightness, meaning drafts all leading to inefficient heating and cooling.
Now, while there is an opportunity to retrofit more sustainable solutions within these buildings, it would likely require costly renovations, which would cap the amount available to spend on sustainable technology.
Additionally, many of these older buildings are listed and therefore cannot be significantly changed due to the protection regulations. Further, any renovations would require a full building review.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Where older buildings are accessible, and retrofits can happen without obstacles, more sustainable solutions – such as electric heating systems – can be installed effectively.
New-build complexities
New buildings are being built with a fabric first approach and energy efficiency in mind. Modern construction techniques like insulated concrete forms (ICFs) and high-performance windows are being used to improve energy performance. Specifiers are also incorporating renewable energy sources, efficient HVAC systems, and building automation technologies to offset energy consumption.
That said, I believe there are still significant barriers to reaching the full potential of new build decarbonisation, including legislation around specifying new technologies.
While the SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) and RdSAP (Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure) are primarily focused on the energy performance of residential buildings, their principles and methodologies have direct implications for public buildings through legislative and regulatory frameworks.
Public buildings that are frequently visited by the public and have a floor area of over 250 square metres, require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), much like residential spaces. In addition, public buildings occupied by a public authority and frequently visited by the public, must have Display Energy Certificates (DECs), which provide an operational rating based on overall energy consumption.
Public buildings also need to adhere to Part L of the Building Regulations, which outline the requirements for conserving fuel and power, including standards for new buildings and major renovations, to ensure they are energy efficient.
The problem is that similar to SAP and RdSAP, the legislation used in public buildings does not always capture the full complexity of energy usage in different settings. For example, the requirements and behaviour of occupants in a hospital ward and individual student rooms differ dramatically, meaning results are often misleading.
This legislation is also not updated regularly enough to keep pace with industry advancements. As a result, many new technologies are not being recognised despite demand. Consequently, contracts are lost, and innovative companies struggle to keep up with industry dominators.
The spiralling pricing structure
Another challenge to consider is the spiralling cost of electricity. This has been a real point of contention in recent years, and sadly, the grants provided by the government do not mitigate the fact that electricity is still significantly more expensive than gas. With local authorities restricted by budget, this places further financial barriers on the road to Net Zero.
I believe that we need to introduce more balanced energy pricing for local authorities to use grants effectively. Electric heating and smart technologies, when combined with energy storage, can significantly reduce energy expenses and lower overall costs through reduced tariff rates and turn-down offers from electricity providers, but it cannot do this without the energy price shift.
The case for electric heating
During a two-year experimental project with the University of Leeds, we saw energy consumption and subsequent costs reduce by 50% by installing a bespoke smart electric heating solution in real-life student accommodation.
We installed our patented NEOS electric radiator, coupled with our proximity app-based thermostats to connect to occupants’ mobile devices via Bluetooth. When not in range, the app automatically turns heating systems off, thus reducing energy usage and resulting in additional savings.
The results speak for themselves. Over 25 years, savings within the university have the potential to reach over £3.1m, which illustrates the potential of electric heating systems in managing energy consumption and aiding decarbonisation.
Looking ahead
While great progress is being made, there is still a long way to go. We must understand the complexities of energy consumption and work together to address the challenges.
To ensure government grants go further in decarbonising local authority buildings, we need balanced energy pricing and updated certification processes. Outdated technologies and imbalanced energy sources make it difficult for decision-makers to make sustainable choices in public buildings.
