Reaching net zero is all about rethinking how your building uses, manages, and stores energy. For most organisations, the most significant opportunities lie in the systems already in place: heating, ventilation, lighting, and electrical infrastructure.
Here are five practical steps that help decarbonise your building services, cut operational costs, and future-proof your site.
1. Start with an energy and asset assessment
Before making any upgrades, understand how your systems are currently performing. A complete energy assessment means UES can identify where the biggest carbon and cost reductions can be made.
Look for:
- Outdated gas or oil-based plant
- Underperforming HVAC systems
- High standby loads from unused electrical circuits
- Poorly insulated or oversized equipment
UES tip: Benchmarking your current performance creates a baseline for measuring progress and helps target investment where it delivers the greatest return.
2. Prioritise electrification
Switching from fossil fuels to electricity is one of the most effective ways UES can help decarbonise building services.
This could include:
- Replacing gas boilers with air or ground source heat pumps
- Installing electric warm air or radiant heating
- Transitioning to an EV-ready electrical infrastructure for fleet or staff charging
Electrification enables sites to use renewable grid energy and on-site generation such as solar PV, dramatically lowering lifetime emissions.
3. Integrate renewables
Generating your own energy reduces reliance on the grid and supports long-term cost control.
Common technologies include:
- Solar PV systems – ideal for large roof areas or open land
- Battery storage – stores excess energy for later use
- Solar thermal systems – provides renewable hot water
- Building management systems (BMS) – monitors and optimises performance in real time
UES engineers design integrated systems so these technologies work together, balancing electrical demand and maintaining compliance.
4. Improve system efficiency
Even small changes to how systems are controlled and maintained can significantly reduce energy use.
Practical improvements might include:
- Upgrading HVAC controls and zoning
- Introducing demand-led ventilation
- Installing destratification fans in high-ceilinged buildings
- Scheduling plant operation only during occupied hours
Preventative maintenance and periodic testing ensure assets continue running at peak efficiency, extending lifespan and lowering running costs.
5. Plan for monitoring and continuous improvement
Decarbonisation is an ongoing process. UES regularly reviews your performance data to help identify where you can achieve further efficiencies.
Consider setting up:
- Energy dashboards for live consumption tracking
- Planned maintenance schedules to ensure optimal performance
- Annual reviews to align with changing energy targets and regulations
Key decarbonisation actions at a glance
| Step | Action | Why it matters | UES advantage |
| 1 | Energy and asset assessment | Establishes baseline and identifies priority areas | In-house engineers assess full electrical and mechanical systems |
| 2 | Electrify key systems | Cuts fossil fuel use and enables renewable integration | Expertise in EV, heat pumps, and electric heating |
| 3 | Integrate renewables | Reduces grid dependency and long-term costs | Solar PV, battery storage, and BMS delivered by one team |
| 4 | Improve system efficiency | Lowers energy waste and improves reliability | Data-driven maintenance and zoning strategies |
| 5 | Monitor and optimise | Ensures ongoing performance and compliance | Continuous testing and performance reporting |
Why UES leads the way for decarbonisation in building services
At UES, we’ve applied the same principles internally, investing in solar, heat pumps, and a fully electric vehicle fleet as part of our own B Corp commitments.
Our engineers bring that same practical, sustainability-led approach to every project, helping clients decarbonise safely and efficiently across HVAC, electrical, and renewable systems.
Explore our Net Zero services or get in touch to plan your decarbonisation roadmap.