Green Energy & Eco Building in the UK — Heat Pumps, Solar, EV Chargers, Boilers

An Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) extracts heat from the outside air and uses it to heat your home and hot water. It operates similarly to a refrigerator in reverse. Heat pumps can operate effectively in temperatures as low as -20°C.

• Key facts:
• •A heat pump typically produces 2.5–4 units of heat energy for every 1 unit of electrical energy consumed (Coefficient of Performance or COP of 2.5–4)
• •Most efficient with underfloor heating (lower flow temperatures suit heat pumps better than radiators)
• •Can be used with radiators, but radiators may need upsizing
• •Planning permission is not required for most domestic ASHP installations (within PD limits)
• •The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides a £7,500 government grant for eligible ASHP installations (as of 2024)
• •Hot water cylinder (buffer or thermal store) is required
• •Noise: modern units are quiet (40–50dB at 1m) but must be sited away from boundaries per permitted development rules

Best suited to: well-insulated properties (EPC C or above ideally), extensions, new builds, or properties being refurbished

Solar PV panels convert sunlight into electricity. In the UK, a typical domestic 4kWp system produces 3,000–4,000 kWh per year (approximately 30–40% of average household consumption).

• Key facts:
• •Planning permission is not usually required for domestic solar panels (within PD limits: no higher than the roof, not on a listed building, not in a Conservation Area without planning)
• •The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) requires energy suppliers with 150,000+ customers to pay for excess electricity exported to the grid — rates vary by supplier (typically 3–10p per kWh)
• •Battery storage can be combined with solar to store excess generation for evening/night use
• •Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) closed to new applicants in 2019 — SEG replaced it
• •0% VAT applies to solar panel installations in England (from 2022, extended to 2027)
• •Typical payback period: 8–14 years depending on system size and electricity price

Since 15 June 2022, Building Regulations in England require electric vehicle (EV) charger points to be installed in:

• •New residential dwellings
• •Residential dwellings undergoing a 'material change of use' (e.g., conversion from commercial to residential)
• •Dwellings where major renovation includes the car park

Under Part S of the Building Regulations (Infrastructure for the Charging of Electric Vehicles 2021), new homes and some extensions must have a minimum of one Type 2 EV charger (Mode 3, minimum 7kW) installed. The charger must meet relevant standards.

For existing homes, installing an EV charger is encouraged but not mandatory. The OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme has been superseded — but local authority grants and employer schemes may be available.

The UK government originally announced a ban on the installation of new gas boilers in new homes from 2025 under the Future Homes Standard. This has been updated:

• •From 2025: New homes must use low-carbon heating (heat pumps, district heating, hydrogen-ready boilers) — gas boilers banned in new builds
• •Existing homes: Gas boilers remain legal to install and replace in existing homes beyond 2025. There is no mandatory ban on replacing a gas boiler in an existing home.
• •The Future Homes Standard (consultation ongoing) will require new homes to produce 75–80% fewer carbon emissions than homes built under current Building Regulations

• In practice, the shift from gas boilers in the existing housing stock will be driven by:
• •Rising gas prices vs. electricity costs
• •Government incentives (Boiler Upgrade Scheme)
• •Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements for rental properties (currently proposed minimum EPC C by 2028 for new tenancies)

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) is the UK government's policy for dramatically improving the energy performance of new homes. Key timelines and implications:

• •2023: Interim Part L update — new homes must produce 30% fewer CO2 emissions than before (already implemented)
• •2025: Full Future Homes Standard — new homes to produce 75–80% fewer CO2 emissions than 2013 baseline, meaning gas boilers banned in new builds
• •Extension and renovation: The FHS applies to new buildings, not extensions or refurbishments directly, but the Part L standards for extensions have also been tightened

For extensions and loft conversions, the FHS does not directly apply in the same way, but new Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) requirements mean higher insulation standards are mandatory in new extensions from 2023 onwards.

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) gives a property an energy efficiency rating from G (worst) to A (best). The government has been progressively tightening requirements for rental properties:

• •Currently: minimum EPC E for all new and existing tenancies in England and Wales (since 2020)
• •Proposed (under consultation): minimum EPC C for new tenancies from 2025 and all tenancies from 2028
• •Landlords may need to invest in insulation, heating upgrades, or renewable energy systems to meet the proposed requirements

For property investors and landlords, this is a significant consideration. Properties rated E, F, or G may require significant investment to meet future requirements. Incorporating energy improvements into a refurbishment now can protect the investment.

As part of a refurbishment, extension or loft conversion, RCB can include:

• •Air source heat pump installation and commissioning (MCS-certified subcontractor)
• •Solar PV panel installation (MCS-certified subcontractor)
• •Battery storage system
• •EV charger installation (OZEV-authorised subcontractor)
• •Underfloor heating (essential for heat pump efficiency)
• •Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems
• •High-performance insulation (walls, roof, floors) to exceed minimum Building Regs standards
• •Triple-glazed or high-performance windows
• •Building fabric improvements to improve EPC rating

These can be incorporated into the main contract scope, giving you one fixed price and one coordinated programme.