NEWS Companies trial heat-as-a-service with eye towards zero carbon Energy efficiency could save 6bn Companies should take advantage of the launch of the new Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations to cut their energy use by up to 20%, according to the government. From 1 April, firms will be obliged to submit data on their energy use and emissions alongside their annual financial reports. This is likely to affect around 12,000 large or listed companies, and the total savings could reach 6bn a year, according to Minister for Energy and Clean Growth Kwasi Kwarteng. Companies will now be required to explain what measures they are taking to reduce energy consumption, and should include data on their supply chains energy use and emissions as part of their submission. This is in line with the 2017 Clean Growth Strategy, which aims to reduce corporate energy use by 20% by 2030. Baxi Heating UK and Bristol Energy test pay-as-you-go heat plans Two British firms have trialled selling heat as a service in a move that experts believe will pave the way for the low carbon retrofit revolution. As part of the Energy Systems Catapult innovation trials, 100 homes in Newcastle, Manchester, the West Midlands, Gloucestershire, and Bridgend, Wales have been fitted with smart heating systems that give room-by-room temperature control and a wealth of data on consumer behaviour and the thermal performance of the home. The heat plan allows consumers to buy hours of warmth in their home called Warm Hours instead of units of energy (kWh). These plans have been trialled by Baxi Heating UK, which sold one that bundled a new heating system, servicing, maintenance and energy for a fixed monthly price. Bristol Energy became the first energy supplier in the UK to trial heat-as-a-service, selling fixed-price and pay-as-you-go heat plans to domestic customers. Carbon emissions fall to 19th-century levels The UKs carbon emissions fell by 2.9% last year, according to data published by Carbon Brief. This brings the total reduction to 29% over the past decade, reaching their lowest level since 1888. The driving force behind the decline was a further 29% drop in the use of coal. Emissions from coal have fallen by 80% over the past decade, while those from gas are down 20% and oil by just 6%. Coal accounted for only 2% of UK electricity production last year below solar power. Collectively, fossil fuels accounted for a low of 43%, while 54% of electricity generation is now from low-carbon sources, including 37% from renewables 20% from wind alone. Energy Systems Catapult also tested the performance of hybrid heating systems that combine gas boilers with an electric heat pump. Dr Matt Lipson, consumer insight business lead at Energy Systems Catapult, said: If people have the peace of mind that heat-as-a-service will deliver the comfort they want at a price they can afford, they will be more confident of switching to a low carbon heating system, such as a heat pump, district heat network or hydrogen boiler. The work we are doing with Bristol Energy and Baxi is taking a leap forward, piloting commercial offers that could pave the way for a low carbon retrofit revolution. Boom for business as firms merge James Warne WME and Boom Collective have joined forces to create WMEboom, the UK-based arm of WME Globals engineering consultancy. As well as MEP services and sustainability within the UK, the firms offer includes structural and civil engineering, and expertise in AV, IT and security. The firm has also created a specialist building performance team with skills in Breeam assessments, energy performance, whole-life analysis, materials selection, and assessments of occupant comfort and wellbeing. The team has the talent required to improve the as-built performance of new and refurbished buildings, including Soft Landings support, adoption of modern methods of construction, design for manufacture and assembly, and post-occupancy evaluation. PARASOL Zenith Ready for change ED SOLV ITE ON S High performance 4-way distribution comfort module with cooling, heating and ventilation. PARASOL Zenith offers all the benefits of active chilled beam technology with added flexibly throughout your project. With the options of constant, variable or demand control air flow, PARASOL Zenith provides the perfect indoor climate. Parasol Zenith Ad Folder CIBSE.indd 1 10 April 2020 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Apr20 pp10-11 News.indd 10 13/02/2020 15:45:45 20/03/2020 16:25