Government is seeking input from the building industry to help develop and support future policies for heat in non-domestic buildings in the Future of Heat consultation. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) identifies that non-domestic buildings in the UK currently account for 12 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. To meet the UK’s 2050 carbon reduction target, this will likely mean eliminating nearly all emissions from heating buildings and a substantial proportion from heating for industrial processes.
Prior to this open consultation, in early 2016, BSRIA was commissioned by the former Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) to provide them with better understanding of the current knowledge and identify gaps in knowledge in relation to “low carbon” heating and cooling systems in the non-domestic sector.
The work identified industry experiences, drivers and challenges associated with low carbon technologies, the industry view on current relevant policies and standards and recommendations to support the policy making process. This work was supplemented with a jointly hosted event by BSRIA and BEIS, which was an interactive session to discuss the standards and performance of heating systems in non-domestic buildings – and what roles government and industry should have to overcome main challenges to the uptake of low carbon technologies and measures.
Continuing BEIS engagement with industry, the current consultation which is open until Friday 27th January 2017, is inviting views from those in the building industry and decision makers on the opportunities and how the UK can:
- keep energy bills as low as possible
- continue to ensure the nation has a secure and resilient system
- remain at the leading edge of science, research and innovation
- reduce carbon emissions cost-effectively.
Alongside this call for evidence, BEIS is publishing the BEIS is publishing the Building Energy Efficiency Survey (BEES) research. BEES provides detail on energy use and abatement potential to reduce energy and carbon emissions, as well as barriers and enablers to take up across the whole non-domestic building stock.