Smart eco upgrades for older commercial buildings

Running a business from an older property can be expensive as far as energy preservation and usage are concerned.

Monthly utility bills have been a hot topic in recent years, as have discussions about premises struggling to maintain comfortable temperatures.

If bills keep climbing while your commercial property isn't staying as warm as it could, your energy budget could be draining alarmingly quickly.

But you can put any fears about renovating your building and bankrupting your business quickly to rest.

You can tackle these costs and put solutions in place without the need for a huge structural overhaul.

Focus on building fabric improvements, rather than jumping straight to expensive heating replacements, to protect your budget and your building. Here's how.

The philosophy of fabric-first

Don't invest in expensive hardware until you've reviewed the building itself, as the first stage of your eco upgrades.

Think of it like fixing any holes in the bucket before filling it with water. By stopping heat loss at its source, you make sure any new system doesn't need to work twice as hard.

And that means you're making measurable savings right away.

Quick and straightforward wins

The best starting point is with non-invasive measures that offer an immediate return on investment:

• Doors and windows: Draughtproof with self-adhesive rubber strips to cover gaps.

• Roof space: If the premises contain an accessible roof void, add loft insulation.

• Suspended floors: In ground-floor retail or workshop spaces, make sure suspended timber floors are insulated.

Managing air volume and ceiling height

With obvious gaps sealed and addressed, look at the literal volume of your space.

If your commercial premises has ceilings above four metres, that's a considerable amount of unused space being heated without needing to be.

Air temperature rises roughly 2.5°C per metre above floor level, so maintaining 20°C at floor level in a six-metre-high warehouse means roughly 35°C at ceiling height.

That's a large amount of energy going to waste, and a needless increase to your energy costs.

Destratification devices combat this by using powerful fans to recycle warm air from ceiling level back into zones where they're most likely to be felt.

For technical specifications and advice on installing these devices, BN Thermic offers detailed guidance for buildings like distribution facilities and warehouses.

Its data shows that destratification devices can lower a warehouse's heating system costs by up to 30%.

Even smaller, more personal premises benefit from these types of eco upgrades.

A retail shop integrated within a Victorian building with a 4.5-metre high ceiling can have air circulation products fitted to prevent warm air gathering overhead and people on the ground rarely feeling the warmth.

Protecting the building's breathability

Equally important is working with your building's original design as much as possible – considering the building's "skin".

Older buildings were built with the intention of helping them "breathe" – in other words, so moisture could pass through the walls naturally.

Modern materials that block this can cause condensation to build up. That can soon lead to severe damp and potential structural damage, which costs far more to fix than you'll save on heating anyway.

As a result, if your business is occupying a historic building, a vapour-permeable solution is recommended.

When deciding on wall insulation, breathable materials such as wood fibre, sheep's wool or hemp-lime are excellent at retaining heat and controlling moisture.

These natural materials avoid the problems of impermeable insulation, which can trap moisture within walls.

For expert insight into traditional buildings that have deployed natural and breathable insulation systems, specialists like Cornish Lime supply materials that work well with historic architecture while delivering genuine energy savings.

Smart upgrades to your heating system

Once you've made improvements to your building fabric, upgrading your heating system is where you'll see the benefits most clearly.

Consider the following:

• Pairing modern industrial fan heaters with programmable thermostats and efficient air circulation. This will warm larger spaces while keeping running costs down.

• Zonal heating systems that run on separate circuits which heat specific rooms or areas as needed, as opposed to the entire building (which you may only partly occupy).

• Fan-assisted systems work effectively for buildings with aisles, partitioned spaces or racking, as opposed to radiant solutions.

  That's because they encourage air circulation through and between obstacles, creating a more even temperature distribution in the process.

• Radiant heating systems work better for limited spaces or buildings that need more targeted warming.

  These systems heat specific things rather than entire volumes of air, which can be particularly cost-effective in larger spaces where only isolated areas see regular foot traffic.

• Install programmable thermostats so you have proper control over the system. Set them to the lowest temperatures you find acceptable.

  Add-ons like time switches, movement sensors and push-button timers can help you avoid heating vacant areas unnecessarily.

Ways to make use of renewable energy

Heat pumps

If you're thinking about going for a high-profile eco upgrade like a heat pump – as a low-carbon alternative to a traditional boiler – remember that they require larger radiators and pipework, and use a substantial amount of electricity.

Although these would work best in a well-insulated building, using them isn't always possible in historic premises where new pipework may need to be installed or electrical supplies upgraded.

As a result, they may prove too impractical or expensive.

Biomass boilers

For rural businesses with substantial storage space, biomass boilers may be suitable upgrades. But the units do require lots of room, as well as needing fuel and regular maintenance.

Solar panels

Although a proven energy efficiency upgrade, solar panels aren't always straightforward.

If you're in a historic building, you'll need to carefully consider:

• the roof orientation

• where the panels will be positioned

• structural capacity

• any relevant planning restrictions

Some local authorities will approve installations where panels remain hidden, but each case tends to be judged on its own merits and long-term implications.

Making eco upgrades work for your business

The most effective solution to the energy crisis involves smaller, incremental improvements as opposed to one dramatic overhaul.

Despite the initial upfront investment, subtle upgrades in draughtproofing, insulation, heating and smart controls can benefit your business while remaining financially manageable in the long run.

Start by identifying where heat escapes, which areas stay cold and when you actually need the heating to run. Prioritise the improvements that make the most financial, operational and logical sense, and build on them from there.

Many of the above measures qualify for governmental grants, financing or support. Always explore current available schemes and eligibility criteria before you begin any work.

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