Meeting sustainable hot water demands

Residential care facilities, with their focus on patient comfort and enhanced efficiency, are being seen as one of the key proving grounds for the government's ambitious net zero targets. According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), commercial businesses account for 17 per cent of total carbon emissions, 40 per cent of which are generated through the process of heating, cooling, and lighting buildings. When demands are high, water heating has the potential to be the most energy intensive process of all, accounting for up to 30 per cent of daily energy demands — making it an obvious target for making quick wins.

Despite this, government support for the commercial sector has been lacking, which has muddied the waters for many decision makers. Recent fluctuations in energy prices have added further concerns over the operational costs of new technologies, although many would argue that renewables present an opportunity to obtain energy independence and potentially lower running costs in the long term. In general terms, most organisations today claim to be prioritising sustainability to meet mandated environmental reporting needs and building regulations, and to attract environmentally conscious customers and investment, with renewable heating seen as a potential contributor to all these goals. However, it is estimated that at least 70 per cent of the existing care home building stock will still be in use by 2050 — creating a huge challenge in terms of refurbishing buildings with energy-efficient technologies.

The renewable heating market for commercial buildings is projected to experience significant growth in the coming years, with air source heat pumps (ASHPs) expected to be the dominant technology due to their versatility and increasing efficiency. Electric boilers are expected to become more competitive as renewable energy sources and grid infrastructure improve, while solar PV for space heating and solar thermal systems for applications with high hot water demand will likely find wider adoption through building design optimisation. Hybrid systems, combining elements of these different technologies and existing systems, also offer a workable option for care homes.