The free downloadable guide, Decarbonisation and Affordability of Heat – a phased approach, advises social housing providers to plan a phased approach to heat decarbonisation and provides a roadmap for achieving net zero, particularly in harder-to-decarbonise social homes.
With a focus on both decarbonisation and affordability, the guide is expected to provide valuable insights to social housing providers seeking to tackle the challenge of achieving net zero emissions.
Social housing providers face the dual challenge of addressing fuel poverty while striving to meet their environmental targets. Many residents are struggling with fuel bills, making it essential for providers to find ways to solve this issue while reducing their carbon footprint.
Achieving sustainability goals
Baxi’s new guide acknowledges that only a comprehensive mix of technologies, implemented at scale within appropriately prepared housing stock, can successfully address the net-zero challenge while ensuring maximum comfort and minimal disruption for residents. The guide is expected to offer valuable insights to social housing providers seeking to achieve sustainability goals while tackling fuel poverty.
The four-phase approach encourages social housing providers to take a fabric-first approach within harder-to-heat homes to ensure that the buildings are as efficient as possible and suitable for the low-temperature heating prescribed by Part L of Building Regulations.
As a next step, housing providers are urged to consider accessories that will improve the energy rating of existing systems before planning larger-scale investments such as air source heat pumps and heat networks or longer-term solutions such as hydrogen boilers.
Typical steps involved in decarbonising heat
David Cook, sales and specification director, residential said: “Feedback from our customers indicates that a number of constraints can make certain social homes hard to decarbonise. In buildings like these, full decarbonisation could take some time to achieve. With that in mind, we’ve set out to support housing providers with a guide to the typical steps involved in decarbonising heat to help our customers plot their pathway to improved energy efficiency and net zero.
“Our goal is to provide social housing providers with the right heating solution at the right time to improve the comfort of residents while making significant carbon savings.
“With Baxi’s expertise and support, social housing providers can prepare better by being well informed. This guide is the starting point of the net-zero journey and, by partnering with Baxi, social housing providers can be assured of a smooth transition to energy-efficient, low-carbon heat that will tick all the sustainability boxes.”