News archive for January, 2025
Demonstrating Sustainability of Utility and Infrastructure Projects
Posted on January 24th 2025
Certifications like BREEAM Infrastructure (previously CEEQUAL) help utility and infrastructure projects show investors and stakeholders that they prioritise sustainability and net-zero goals. These projects now need to cover and assess important issues, including: Whole life cycle carbon assessments to show reduced carbon emissions. Resource efficiency plans to lower environmental footprints. Circular economy principles in procurement strategies. Socio-economic impact assessments to …
How to Limit Electrical Capacity Requirements for Heating
Posted on January 24th 2025
There are a number of ways to limit the electrical load needed for heating and hence minimise the cost of obtaining it. For heat network strategies these include: Taking a heat supply from a nearby existing heat network, especially one which utilises waste heat (e.g. waste combustion or data centres). Do not have full boiler (electric) backup, but rather utilise, …
Heat Network Connection Hidden Requirements
Posted on January 24th 2025
Understanding the small print is key to avoiding hidden costs and requirements when connecting to heat networks. Examples include: Technical specifications that go significantly beyond your normal designs. Commissioning and handover requirements that are troublesome to demonstrate or are unclear, leading to different interpretations of what is required. This in turn can lead to occupations occurring before handover to ESCO …
EPC Reforms Address Current Issues but May Create New Ones
Posted on January 24th 2025
Proposals for reforming dwelling Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) could trigger changes to grant funding criteria and require revisions to ESG strategies.  Whilst providing a more comprehensive indicator of performance, the addition of three further performance metrics to the certificate could increase the difficulty in comparing the performance of homes. The government’s consultation on EPC reform acknowledges the flaws of the …