Electrification paving path towards decarbonisation

As building owners and businesses seek to reduce emissions, there is a growing requirement to convert buildings to be fully electric in order to decarbonise.

At least that’s the case according to the latest Advisory Note from integrated building technical services provider A.G. Coombs.

The note explores reasons for electrification, traditional fuels used in buildings, decarbonising the grid, key retrofit considerations, domestic hot water considerations, and potential steps to prepare for building degasification and electrification.

“Electrifying space-heating systems can be challenging where natural gas is to be removed from the building,” according to the Advisory Note. “Small buildings are less complex, with smaller and sometimes decentralised systems, while medium-to-large buildings that rely on larger central gas-fired heating hot water systems can be complex.”

The note says the most commonly considered retrofit option is electric heat pumps, which utilise the vapour compression refrigeration cycle to convert electrical input power to thermal energy.  

“There are multiple heat pump options available in the market,” the note says, “with significant technology advances over the recent years.”

To read the Advisory Note, click here.

Image courtesy of A.G. Coombs.