Low Carbon Heating Solutions for High-Rise Buildings

The UK housing sector remains a major source of carbon emissions. As the country works towards net-zero, housing associations and local authorities face growing pressure to adopt low-carbon solutions.

New regulations – like the Future Homes Standard and updated Part L Building Regulations – are shaping the future of high-rise residential developments.

Innovative heat networks can help meet these requirements while delivering reliable, cost-effective, low-carbon heating and hot water.

Future Homes Standard & Part L Regulations

The Future Homes Standard, coming into force later this year and fully by 2027, will require new homes to cut carbon emissions by 75 – 80% compared to current rules. High-rise residential developments will need to adopt low-carbon, energy-efficient technologies to comply.

Part L of the Building Regulations also mandates reduced energy use and a shift to low-carbon energy sources.

For housing associations and local authorities, meeting these standards – especially in high-rise projects – requires careful planning and modern heating systems. Scalable heat networks offer a practical solution, helping reduce carbon emissions and stay ahead of regulation.

Community Heat Hubs

Community Heat Hubs offer an efficient, low-carbon heating solution for high-rise residential developments. By centralising heat and hot water production using large-scale air source heat pumps and thermal stores, they eliminate the need for individual heat pumps on each building. This simplifies installation and maintenance while delivering significant benefits.

Key Benefits of Community Heat Hubs

1. Community Heat Hubs meet the Future Homes Standard from day one, cutting carbon emissions by 75–80%. From 2026, they will be regulated by OFGEM, giving residents added protection on pricing and service standards.
2. Thermal stores help flatten peak electricity demand across a development, easing pressure on the grid—especially important for high-rise sites with high energy use.
3. Developers can reduce costs, and residents may see energy bills cut by up to 20% compared to traditional systems. Inside apartments, removing the need for hot water cylinders also frees up valuable space.

Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps

Alongside Community Heat Hubs, Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps offer an innovative, low-carbon solution for high-rise buildings. These systems extract natural thermal energy from the ground to deliver efficient heating, hot water, and cooling. Installed inside the building and connected to underground pipework, they eliminate the need for bulky, external units.

Their compact design makes them ideal for high-rise developments, where space is limited and external air source heat pumps may be impractical due to noise concerns. Shared underground infrastructure also allows the system to scale across entire buildings or communities.

Key Benefits of Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps

1. Delivers integrated heating, hot water, and passive cooling—supporting compliance with Part O of the Building Regulations.
2. Uses the same grid capacity as gas-heated homes, helping avoid grid constraints. Up to 30% more efficient than individual air source heat pumps.
3. Meets the Future Homes Standard from day one, cutting carbon emissions by 75–80% and supporting energy-efficient new builds.

Networked Infrastructure for greater efficiency

Both Community Heat Hubs and Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps use networked infrastructure to generate and distribute heat efficiently. This approach not only provides higher overall efficiencies but also reduces transmission losses, ensuring a more reliable heat supply across the building or development.

The Building Safety Act 2022 underscores the importance of managing risks and maintaining safety in residential buildings, especially for high-rise projects. Heat network solutions prioritise safety through robust design, secure system integration, and compliance with the latest safety standards, aligning with both regulatory requirements and best practices for building safety.

Leading the Way in High-Rise Decarbonisation

High-rise residential projects need proven, scalable solutions that cut carbon emissions and meet regulatory demands. Heat networks—through Community Heat Hubs or Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps – are ideal for tackling the energy challenges of high-rise living.

As the industry moves towards net zero, it must ensure developments comply with the Future Homes Standard and Part L, while also delivering long-term value for residents and developers. Adopting heat network technology is a step towards a cleaner, more efficient, and cost-effective future.

Want to learn more?

We can help you design, deliver and connect future-ready heat infrastructure. For more information call us on 03453 223322, email us at enquiries@poweron-uk.co.uk or click the link below to complete one of our contact forms.