In 2020 the United Kingdom (UK) Government announced that gas boilers will be banned in all new residential homes by 2025. The Scottish Government has gone one step further proposing that there will be no gas boilers in new residential homes by April 2024. In addition, in the UK the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) legislation is enforcing increasing energy efficiency of both residential and commercial properties which are tested and rated with an EPC band rating. This MEES legislation is increasing significantly through to 2030 and the time to act on this is now.
The phasing out of the use of gas and the tightening of the energy efficiency standards will increase reliance on electricity to heat and power our properties, particularly as the carbon intensity involved in electricity production is falling and is targeting complete decarbonisation by 2035.
With various forms of financial incentives available, commercial and residential property owners are in many cases opting to install solar panels to meet energy performance target EPC band ratings and reduce the reliance on gas use.
However, sole reliance on electricity can have its consequences as electricity is approximately three times the cost of gas in the UK. The high cost of electricity might be one of the reasons why in the UK solar installations which require no electricity to run are predicted to see significant growth over the next two decades.
The earth receives enough energy from the Sun every day to power the planet for 27 years. Solar alone has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by up to 25% by 2050 and it’s a technology where the efficiency has significantly improved. The power capacity of a solar panel has risen by a third in the past five years and work is underway on new tech which could boost that by a further 50%.
The use of renewable energy sources such as solar panels does contribute significantly to the meeting of Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) goals, whilst also helping conform with the MEES legislation and meeting the required EPC band ratings.
However, in addition to the use of renewable power from solar and or heat pump installations, impactful gains can also be met by energy performance retrofitting properties to conserve energy used before or at the same time alternative power sources are introduced. This means looking at existing levels of insulation, lighting types, heating controls, air movement, windows, doors and alternative sources of internal heating and hot water. A combination of these retrofitting works managed in the correct sequence is a certain way to increase a buildings energy performance and gain the maximum benefit from new renewable power sources such as solar energy.
The UK’s solar installations will continue to grow as we move towards net zero. Careful consideration however also needs to be given to retrofitting and the analysis of all energy related technologies as well as and in conjunction with the installation of renewable energy sources. EPMaxx helps residential and commercial property owners make their property more energy efficient and meet target EPC ratings. For more information please visit www.epmaxx.com
