4 low carbon heating alternatives for your Blackpool business
If you really want to make an impact on your business’ carbon footprint (and your bottom line), the heating is a great place to start.
We take a look at four possible alternatives. In most businesses across Blackpool, fossil fuel powered boilers still dominate the heating landscape. Maintenance and running costs have grown rapidly, even more so where large spaces need to be heated. For your bottom line now and in the future, we can help you consider an alternative approach.
Here the Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy specialists look at four proven technologies already well-tested in businesses across the UK. There’s nothing especially experimental in these low carbon options – which is why we’ve omitted hydrogen boilers, for example – and each could be a viable option for most businesses.
What are they?
Air Source Heat Pumps are devices that use the outside air to heat or cool indoor spaces. They work by transferring heat from the air outside to inside a building for heating, and they can also remove heat from inside a building and release it outside for cooling.
ASHPs are used to heat and cool commercial premises. In heating, the ASHP transfers energy from ambient air and raises it to a useful temperature using a thermodynamic refrigeration cycle.
ASHPs can’t be described as zero carbon – because they do use energy to drive the process - but the energy extracted from the external environment is considered to be renewable.
What are their benefits?
Air Source Heat Pumps offer Blackpool businesses several benefits, including reduced heating cost, lower carbon emissions and potential eligibility for government incentives and grants. They also provide reliable heating and cooling solutions contributing to improved energy efficiency and environmental sustainability for commercial operations.
Our sustainability specialists are already working with a number of Blackpool businesses across the hospitality sector and other sectors to assist their understanding of how Air Source Heat Pumps can benefit their organisation including helping sourcing grants, creating specifications and getting quotes.
What are they?
Whatever the temperature outside, underground temperatures are far more predictable, typically remaining at 8-12⁰C throughout the year. In simple terms, a Ground Source Heat Pump is a system that uses the stable temperature of the ground to heat or cool a building. It works by circulating a fluid through pipes buried underground to absorb heat in the winter and release heat in the summer. It’s a proven, efficient and environmentally friendly way to control indoor temperatures.
As with an Air Source Heat Pump, GSHPs use electricity to raise or lower the temperature of the heat exchange fluid.
What are their benefits?
Similar to ASHP they offer energy and cost savings compared to heating traditional fossil fuels. They also provide reliable and consistent heating and cooling, contributing to improved energy efficiency and environmental sustainability for organisations. They require less maintenance compared to traditional heating and cooling systems, resulting in potential long-term cost savings for businesses.
What is it?
Biomass creates heat by burning organic matter (wood pellets, chips or logs; manure, household waste etc) to power an organisation’s heating and hot water system.
This heat can be used for space heating, water heating or to produce steam for industrial processes. The energy released from burning biomass can be used for heating purposes, making it a renewable and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
Although the process of burning releases carbon dioxide, levels are below those released by fossil fuels.
What is the benefit?
As the cost of wood fuel tends to be lower than other options, biomass heating could be an option for any business. But where the business already generates waste that could be used as fuel the cost savings could well be worth investigating. It is also a versatile option and can be used for a variety of applications including space heating, water heating and industrial processes, providing flexibility for different needs.
Biomass heating is considered a renewable energy source, as it comes from organic materials that can be replenished.
What are they?
Infrared heaters operate by turning electricity into infrared energy, which directly warms objects (including people) rather than warming the air (as per a gas blower or an electric convection heater). These panels typically consist of a surface that emits infrared radiation when heated and can be mounted on walls or ceilings.
What are their benefits?
Particularly well suited to large areas with minimal personnel (e.g. warehouses, workshops and showrooms) infrared panels enable you to keep your people warm without having the expense of heating the whole space.
Known for its efficiency FAR Infrared heating panels can provide targeted and comfortable warmth while potentially reducing energy consumption.
Which lower carbon heating option is right for you?
Most businesses are likely to be able to benefit (in terms of cost and carbon reduction) from at least one of these lower carbon heating options.
Our sustainability specialists will help you understand and implement one that is right for your business.
Fully funded personalised support is available to help your Blackpool business become a low carbon business.
