Heat Decarbonisation Plans and the Fabric First Approach

Is your business planning its Journey to Net Zero?

If so, decarbonisation of heating is likely high on the agenda. The carbon emissions from heating systems make up nearly 37 percent of the UK’s overall emissions, meaning many businesses and organisations are turning to a Heat Decarbonisation Plan (HDP) to drive results.

What is a Heat Decarbonisation Plan, and how can it help your organisation on the Journey to Net Zero?

HDPs and the Journey to Net Zero

Head Decarbonisation Plans are an excellent tool for organisations curious about the decarbonisation process. Essentially, an HDP isolates one of a business’s most significant carbon sources (the heating system) and provides a clear pathway to reducing emissions via low carbon heating measures, which includes activities such as replacing older heating systems in buildings with heat pumps, electric heating, connecting to larger district heating networks, and other renewable and low-carbon fuel sources. For more information about these options, click here.

At GEP Environmental, our team benefits from the expertise of energy engineers, who are well versed at using an HDP to target the very fabric of the building – delivering carbon and energy savings that pack a punch.

HDPs and the Fabric First Approach

When it comes to making buildings more sustainable, many of the measures we currently take are retrospective and not necessarily embedded in the initial design of the building. An HDP can provide organisations with a route to develop an energy efficient building through highlighting measures to address these issues.

A ‘fabric first’ approach maximises the performance of the materials and components of the building during the design phase. This approach minimises the need for energy consumption and improves the energy efficiency of the building. A Heat Decarbonisation Plan with a fabric-first approach will consider the following:

• Prioritising insulation: insulation is one of the most important aspects of the fabric first approach, and proper insulation is a first port of call when it comes to decarbonising a building. Prioritising insulation with high thermal efficienciespromotes heat retention and reduces heat loss – both critical aspects of decarbonising through the heating process.
• Air-tightness: an inefficient heating system is one that produces and loses heat quickly, making air-tightness a critical part of the fabric-first approach and the heat decarbonisation plan itself. A Heat Decarbonisation Plan will assess any leakage through common culprits such as windows and doors but will also assess any gaps and cracks that exist within the building.
• Maximising solar gain: placement of windows and doors is key to decarbonising buildings from the outset. To reduce the cost/energy related to cooling these spaces, one should consider placing these areas on the North aspect of the building to minimise solar gain.
• Optimising air flow and ventilation: a ‘fabric first’ heat decarbonisation plan will carefully consider how enough air flow and ventilation is provided to the building given the increased levels of insulation and airtightness. While natural ventilation should be prioritised where possible (take a look at our latest blog to learn more about space management and ventilation); in some cases, mechanical ventilation may need to be considered.
• Considering the thermal mass of the building fabric: a building’s thermal mass is its ability to absorb heat. Used properly, thermal mass can help maintain comfortable temperatures inside a building. Thermal mass will absorb heat from solar radiation during the day and slowly disperse the heat as the temperature drops in the afternoon through to the evening.

Curious about the ways that a fabric-first Heat Decarbonisation Plan could benefit your business? Our team of experts would be delighted to help. Get in touch today.