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Net Zero: 25 Years And Counting

Adveco looks at the challenges of decarbonising hot water for commercial projects as we cross the 25 years to the UK net zero deadline …

Despite global efforts, the world is still far off track to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. 2024 was a record-breaking year for global temperatures, with several months surpassing the 1.5°C warming limit set by the Paris Agreement, marking the first time global temperatures have consistently exceeded this threshold for an extended period.  

While the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to “well below” 2°C, with an aspiration of 1.5°C, the 1.5°C limit is seen as a crucial threshold to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change. Exceeding this limit, even temporarily, highlights the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating climate action.  

Addressing a building’s water heating demands is a proven and accessible means for any organisation to begin the process of decarbonisation.  However, the increasing complexity of navigating the landscape of commercial water heating means organisations should carefully consider their specific needs, explore available technologies, and seek expert advice to make informed decisions. Adveco, remains the specialist in this space, embracing sustainability, efficiency, and innovation, working in partnership with our customers and enabling them to contribute to a low-carbon future.

Net Zero: 25 Years and Counting

We now stand 25 years from the national goal of net zero, with a year set to be defined by efforts to achieve greater efficiency and better conditions within buildings predominantly through integrating low-carbon and smart technologies.

The commitment to net-zero emissions has led to stricter energy efficiency regulations, incentivising the adoption of high-efficiency water heating systems. This is especially the case in commercial new builds where there continues to be growing interest in heat pumps for water heating. Rapid return on investment is increasing the adoption of solar thermal systems to supplement traditional heating sources. The combination of carbon reduction with heat pumps and operational savings with solar thermal is also gaining traction in the retrofit space as a sustainable addition or alternative to traditional gas boilers.

Gas boilers, though currently reliant on fossil fuels, continue to develop at an unprecedented pace, demonstrating both greater efficiencies to reduce carbon emissions as well as offering crucial lower operating costs. For existing properties with a gas connection, the technology still offers a viable alternative and represents a proven stepping-stone toward next-generation green gas alternatives likely to come into play 10 to 15 years from now.

Hydrogen-blend-ready water heaters are available now offering a futureproof choice for water heating while the potential of hydrogen as a low-carbon fuel source is being explored. Looking further forward, the next generation of commercial-grade hydrogen-ready boilers will help accommodate any future shifts in the energy landscape.  

The increasingly complex response to domestic hot water (DHW) demands across the commercial built environment is not only being shaped by the way energy is harnessed but also in the way that it is monitored and controlled to deliver precisely controlled working and leisure environments which optimise energy usage. The next 25 years will be marked by smart controls and connected devices which are already enhancing the capabilities of building management systems (BMS), revolutionising remote self-monitoring to deliver greater protection, predictive maintenance, and optimised energy use. This will further help address carbon emissions as well as  Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) necessary for healthier work and living spaces.

Rising to the Challenge with Adveco

Commercial buildings will often require large volumes of domestic hot water for a variety of applications across every sector. However, these hot water applications, as a significant component of commercial operations, present unique challenges in the UK’s low-carbon transition over the coming 25 years.

Traditional gas boilers, while increasingly more efficient, will contribute to carbon emissions. Heat pumps alone, while a promising alternative, may not be suitable for all applications, especially in high-temperature and high-demand scenarios. And new low-carbon technologies often have higher upfront costs compared to traditional, familiar gas boilers.  This can be a barrier for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises unable to take advantage of current boiler replacement schemes.

There is also considerable technical complexity when installing, but also maintaining these systems. That requires specialised expertise which remains challenging to find.  When systems do transition toward the new, such as the increased electrification of hot water, wider concerns regarding grid capacity constraints and costs of connection come into play. These can very quickly derail a project’s aspirations.  

Last, but not least, addressing water quality and Legionella risk remains a key requirement in large commercial water systems, requiring careful management and further complicating the task.

Adveco is perfectly positioned to assess, advise, recommend, provide and manage the process of securing lower-carbon water heating. Whether managing existing systems, transitioning to new ones, or starting completely fresh. Every location and every building has unique challenges and Adveco has wide experience developing the right response.  Simply adopting new technology is not always the right or only answer. New technologies come with a host of potential issues and problems due to a lack of familiarity, and despite claims, there still is no single silver bullet technology that has all the answers.

As an independent hot water design specialist and supplier, Adveco is positioned to support the integration of renewable energy sources, such as air and solar with DHW systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. We have also embraced a hybrid approach, combining traditional boilers with heat pumps or other renewable technologies, for versatile and efficient applications that help to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels while controlling capital and operational investment.

Adveco is also one of the best-positioned organisations to aid in meeting the challenges associated with energy storage and grid integration. Better, more integrated system design and enhanced, smart controls are without doubt one of the best ways to control electricity grid demands, achieving more with less.

How that energy is then stored and deployed is the most critical element of a sustainable system. For DHW applications this energy storage is addressed through the use of cylinders, the batteries of efficient, sustainable hot water applications. Adveco offers the most comprehensive range of cylinders in the UK, able to meet low-cost off-the-shelf needs alongside the most complex, bespoke project needs.

All this is backed by Adveco’s own designed or carefully selected ranges of award-winning water heating technology, including gas and electric water heaters, heat pumps, solar thermal systems and a wide range of system ancillaries, packaged hybrid systems and complete plantroom offerings.        

Upskilling In Sustainability

Adveco also recognises that there remains a shortage of skilled installers and technicians, a situation exacerbated by the increasingly complex demands, regulations and policies that apply to commercial water heating.

If you are a consultant, contractor or installer and wish to gain a more in-depth understanding of the challenges and responses needed to integrate lower-carbon DHW systems into your building Adveco can help. We offer a range of CIBSE-approved CPD seminars which can be delivered to your team, or there are opportunities to have our engineers oversee the initial installation of technology, especially solar thermal systems. 

The Net Zero Opportunity

Adveco is committed to supporting the customer journey towards net zero throughout the next 25 years. Our ongoing research and development in commercial DHW technologies has led to more efficient and sustainable responses. Looking forward, we see this as a necessary process of collaboration between consultants, manufacturing partners, academia and government to accelerate the pace of innovation. Government grants and subsidies for the commercial and public sectors are necessary to help offset the high initial costs of low-carbon technologies. We will continue to lobby for this support when and wherever we can.

Approached sensibly and intelligently, by adopting low-carbon, energy-efficient DHW system technologies and optimising operations, Adveco can help businesses meet their sustainability goals and reduce their carbon footprint. Reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions helps contribute to improved overall building performance and occupant comfort. It can also enhance an organisation’s sustainability credentials.

They can also make significant energy cost savings, often enough to quickly offset initial investment costs and deliver long-term savings.

The UK’s commercial HVAC market in 2025 is a complex and evolving landscape. By addressing the challenges and embracing emerging trends, Adveco is playing a vital role in achieving the UK’s net-zero goals while ensuring the comfort and productivity of commercial buildings now and throughout the next 25 years.

Discover Adveco’s 2025 product range…