The Impact of Retrofitting Older Buildings with New Heating Technology

Why is Retrofitting Older Commercial & Industrial Buildings Necessary?

Retrofitting is important for several positive business impacts. These include cost savings, employee comfort, productivity gains, increased asset value, and positive environmental impacts. To achieve these benefits, it is essential to find the right solution for older buildings and transition to more efficient, sustainable options.

Exploring the Benefits of Retrofitting New Heating Technology in Older Buildings

Cost Efficiency & Savings

Some businesses may find changing to new heating solutions daunting. However, the immediate cost efficiency and savings are often underestimated. Although the return on investment may come later, cost savings are felt right away. Over time, older systems usually become less efficient and need more maintenance.

With the use of specialists such as Winrow Building Services, their expertise can further the cost efficiency and savings felt. This is achieved through specialised site survey and their technician’s knowledge before recommending and installing the most suitable solution. The attention to detail and level of customer service offers an unparalleled customer experience for all clients served.

Comfort & Productivity Gains for Employees

The importance of maintaining a comfortable temperature in a commercial or industrial space cannot be underestimated. In fact, it is mandated that temperatures must be no lower than 13°C-16°C in an indoor workplace, depending on the type of work performed. While a consistent temperature can provide a more comfortable environment for employees, this can also be extended to individuals’ health and productivity gains in the workplace.

From a commercial perspective, this can also have a positive impact on customers’ experiences, whether this be in a retail venue or staying in a hotel. In either circumstance, the importance of maintaining a comfortable environment through heating solutions is undeniable and paramount.

Increased Asset Value

Unsurprisingly, from an owner’s perspective, for commercial or industrial sites, retrofitting can increase the value of these sites. Whether a business owns the site outright or they are a tenant in the building, the retrofitting of new heating solutions benefits both parties. Particularly with older sites, retrofitting new heating technology can be more appealing to a company knowing that these upgrades have or will be installed and will take the unnecessary burden off themselves having to organise these at a later date if required.

Environmental Impact & Supporting Companies' ESG initiatives

Environmental impact is one of the largest benefits of retrofitting older sites with new heating solutions. As technology is constantly evolving, it goes without saying that heating equipment will only become more efficient in operation, while the consumption of gas or electricity will also become lower. Over time, older heating systems generally become less efficient to operate, requiring more maintenance, and can consume more power to operate.

Retrofitting and upgrading to new heating technology benefits companies from a cost perspective while also reducing carbon emissions. This, in turn, helps them to meet their sustainability and ESG targets. While net zero targets are aimed more at countries and industries as a whole, the focus on retrofitting and making more sustainable choices for new heating technology ensures that individual companies are collectively helping to reduce emissions.



1.    Boilers

Boilers are designed for hot water heating. The boiler uses a fuel source such as gas and electricity, whereby the heated water is then circulated through pipes or other heat exchangers to provide warmth throughout a building. Generally, hot water boilers operate at lower temperatures and pressures, making them suitable for commercial heating systems.

At Winrow, the high-efficiency condensing boilers that we install are capable of blending 30% hydrogen & 70% natural gas. The boiler system utilised can work hand in hand with the UK government’s emission reduction targets, further supporting our customers’ sustainability and ESG initiatives.

2.    Hydrogen Ready Water Heaters

Another water heating system on offer at Winrow is hydrogen ready water heaters. This is a type of water heating appliance specifically designed or adapted to operate efficiently using hydrogen as its fuel source, either exclusively or in combination with natural gas.

At Winrow, we utilise hydrogen ready water heating systems that have the capability of blending 30% hydrogen with 70% natural gas. The main advantage of this solution is its compatibility with emerging hydrogen infrastructure and the potential for reducing carbon emissions in commercial heating applications.

3.    Warm Air Heating Solutions

Warm air heating solutions refer to systems that heat and distribute air throughout a building to provide space heating. Generally, these systems typically use a central heater to warm air, which is then circulated via a network of ducts and vents. Warm air heating can be powered by various energy sources, including natural gas, electricity, or renewable fuels.

The main advantage of warm air heating solutions is their ability to quickly raise indoor temperatures and provide even heat distribution. At Winrow, we provide hybrid gas fired heating and air cooling units. These are fan assisted appliances that are able to pull the required amount of combustion air from outside the building and extract the waste flue gases to outside. With the use of these warm air heating solutions, potential energy savings of 15% can be achieved.

4.    LPG Heating Solutions

LPG heating solutions refer to heating systems that use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as their primary fuel source. LPG heating is commonly used in areas without access to natural gas pipelines, providing a reliable and efficient alternative for commercial and industrial applications.