The future of heat
In January 2017, BSRIA lent its support to a government consultation seeking input from the construction industry to help develop and support future policies for heat in non-domestic buildings.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) suggests non-domestic buildings in the UK account for 12% of greenhouse gas emissions. Meeting the UK’s 2050 carbon reduction target will require eliminating nearly all emissions from heating buildings and a substantial proportion from heating for industrial processes.
The consultation is open until: Friday 27th January 2017 and can be seen here.
The consultation considers:
- Keeping energy bills as low as possible.
- Continuing to ensure the nation has a secure and resilient system.
- Remaining at the leading edge of science, research and innovation.
- Reducing carbon emissions cost-effectively.
Alongside this call for evidence, BEIS is publishing the Building Energy Efficiency Survey (BEES) (building energy efficiency survey) research.
BEES provides detail on energy use and abatement potential to reduce energy and carbon emissions, as well as barriers and enablers across the whole non-domestic building stock.
Peter Tse, BSRIA Principal Design Consultant, said:
“We urge BSRIA members and industry alike to complete this survey. This consultation provides the opportunity for the building industry to provide the context to support development of a long term policy strategy to deliver the most effective savings.”
Early in 2016, BSRIA was commissioned by the former Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) to provide them with a better understanding of current knowledge and gaps in knowledge in relation to low-carbon heating and cooling systems in the non-domestic sector.
This 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.
It was supplemented by a jointly-hosted event by BSRIA and BEIS to discuss the standards and performance of heating systems in non-domestic buildings and what roles government and industry should take to overcome the challenges to the uptake of low-carbon technologies and measures.
This article was originally published here by BSRIA in Jan 2017.
--BSRIA
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- BSRIA articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Global challenges and opportunities in heating markets in 2020.
- Heat meter.
- Heat metering.
- Heat pumps and heat waves: How overheating complicates ending gas in the UK.
- Heat transfer.
- Latent heat.
- Sensible heat.
- Specific heat capacity.
- The future of the HVAC and building controls industry.
- Thermal comfort.
- Thermostat.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.





















