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Net Zero in 2025: An Urgent Call To Arms For The Public Sector

Despite global efforts, the world is still far off track to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. 2024 was a record-breaking year for global temperatures, with several months surpassing the 1.5°C warming limit set by the Paris Agreement, marking the first time global temperatures have consistently exceeded this threshold for an extended period.  

While the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to “well below” 2°C, with an aspiration of 1.5°C, the 1.5°C limit is seen as a crucial threshold to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change. Exceeding this limit, even temporarily, highlights the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating climate action.  

Addressing a building’s water heating demands is a proven and accessible means for any public sector organisation to begin the process of decarbonisation.  But the increasing complexity when navigating the landscape of commercial water heating means public sector organisations should carefully consider their specific needs, explore available technologies, and seek expert advice to make informed decisions. Adveco, remains the specialist in this space, embracing sustainability, efficiency, and innovation, working in partnership with our public sector customers and enabling them to contribute to a low-carbon future.

Net Zero: 25 Years and Counting

We now stand 25 years from the national goal of net zero, with a year set to be defined by efforts to achieve greater efficiency and better conditions within buildings predominantly through the integration of low-carbon and smart technologies.

The commitment to net-zero emissions has led to stricter energy efficiency regulations, incentivising the adoption of high-efficiency water heating systems. This is especially the case in commercial new builds where there continues to be growing interest in heat pumps for water heating. Rapid return on investment is also increasing adoption of solar thermal systems to supplement traditional heating sources. The combination of carbon reduction with heat pumps and operational savings with solar thermal is also gaining traction in the retrofit space as a sustainable addition or alternative to traditional gas boilers.

Gas boilers, though currently reliant on fossil fuels, continue to develop at an unprecedented pace, demonstrating both greater efficiencies to reduce carbon emissions as well as offering crucial lower operating costs. For existing properties with a gas connection, the technology still offers a viable alternative and represents a proven stepping-stone toward next generation green gas alternatives likely to come into play 10 to 15 years from now.

Hydrogen-blend ready boilers are available now offering a futureproof choice for water heating while the potential of hydrogen as a low-carbon fuel source is being explored. Looking further forward, the next generation of commercial-grade hydrogen-ready boilers will help accommodate any future shifts in the energy landscape.  

The increasingly complex response to domestic hot water (DHW) demands across the commercial-grade built environment is not only being shaped by the way energy is harnessed, but also in the way that it is monitored and controlled to deliver precisely controlled working and leisure environments which optimise energy usage. Smart controls and connected devices which enhance the capabilities of building management systems (BMS) are revolutionising remote self-monitoring to deliver greater protection, predictive maintenance, and optimised energy use. This will further help address carbon emissions as well as helping address Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) necessary for healthier work and living spaces.

Rising to the Challenge

Commercial buildings will often require large volumes of domestic hot water for variety of applications across every sector. But these hot water applications, as a significant component of public sector operations, present unique challenges in the UK’s low-carbon transition.

Traditional gas boilers, while efficient, will contribute to carbon emissions. Heat pumps, while a promising alternative, may not be suitable for all applications, especially in high-temperature and high-demand scenarios. And new low-carbon technologies, such as heat pumps, often have higher upfront costs compared to traditional, familiar gas boilers. This can be a real barrier for the public sector as it budgets for change.

There is also considerable technical complexity when installing, but also maintaining these systems. That require specialised expertise which remains challenging to find.  When systems do transition toward the new, such as the increased electrification of hot water, wider concerns regarding grid capacity constraints and costs of connection come into play. These can very quickly derail a project’s aspirations. 

Last, but not least, addressing water quality and Legionella risk remain key requirement in large commercial water systems, requiring careful management and further complicating the task.

Whether managing existing systems, transitioning to new, or starting completely fresh. Every location, every building has its own unique challenges so it is critical to develop the right response.  Simply adopting new technology is not always the right or only answer. In fact, new technologies come with a host of potential issues and problems due to a lack of familiarity, and despite the many claims there currently is no single silver bullet technology that has all the answers.

Adveco is also one of the best positioned organisations to aid in meeting the challenges associated with energy storage and grid integration. Better, more integrated system design and enhanced, smart controls are without doubt one of the best ways to control electricity grid demands, achieving more with less. How that energy is then stored and deployed is the most critical element of a sustainable system. For DHW applications this energy storage is addressed through use of cylinders, the batteries of efficient, sustainable hot water applications. With a more comprehensive choice of cylinders, the public sector can select between more low-cost off-the-shelf needs alongside the most complex, bespoke project needs.

More so than ever, this choice is now backed by a widening set of water heating technologies, including gas and electric water heaters, heat pumps, solar thermal systems and system ancillaries, packaged hybrid systems and complete plantroom offerings.  As an independent hot water design specialist and supplier, Adveco can support the integration of renewable energy sources, such air and solar, with DHW systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. We have also embraced a hybrid approach, combining traditional boilers with heat pumps or other renewable technologies, for versatile and efficient applications that help to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels while controlling capital and operational investment.

The Net Zero Opportunity

Our ongoing research and development in commercial DHW technologies is leading to more efficient and sustainable responses. Looking forward, we see this as a necessary process of collaboration between consultants, manufacturing partners, academia and critically government to accelerate the pace of innovation. Government grants and subsidies for the public sectors are necessary to help offset the high initial costs of low-carbon technologies. We will continue to lobby for this support when and wherever we can over the course of the next 25 years.

Approached sensibly and intelligently, by adopting low-carbon, energy-efficient DHW system technologies and optimising operations, the public sector can meet sustainability goals and reduce its carbon footprint. Furthermore, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, helps contribute to improved overall building performance and occupant comfort. It can also enhance a public sector organisation’s sustainability credentials, while making significant energy cost savings, often enough to quickly offset initial investment costs and deliver long term savings.

The UK’s commercial HVAC market in 2025 is a complex and evolving landscape. By addressing the challenges and embracing emerging trends, Adveco is helping the public sector to play a vital role in achieving the UK’s net-zero goals while ensuring the comfort and productivity of its buildings.

www.adveco.co

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