heating

Housing associations and local authorities across the UK are tasked with providing safe, sustainable, and affordable homes. Yet, hidden inside thousands of properties is a growing issue: limescale. This “silent saboteur” is quietly reducing the lifespan of appliances, raising energy bills, and driving up maintenance costs—just as budgets are being squeezed tighter than ever.

At Advanced Hydro, we’re committed to making effective “green” technology accessible and cost-effective—not a gamble. Our mission from the outset has been clear: to offer water treatment solutions that are better for the environment, reduce costs, and out-perform traditional salt-based softeners, without the hassle or complexity.

Across the UK, over 5.1 million households* rely on social housing, and for housing providers, ensuring these homes are safe, warm, efficient and compliant has never been more challenging. Rising energy costs, damp and mould concerns, decarbonisation pressures, and tighter regulation all place increasing responsibility on landlords to deliver high performing heating systems that support resident wellbeing.

Vokèra Ltd, a leading manufacturer of heating solutions, has announced the launch of a comprehensive series of tutorial videos to support installers working with its Synergy boiler range. The videos, now available on Vokèra’s official YouTube channel, cover key functions, installation guidance and setup tips, giving installers everything they need to get a Synergy boiler up and running smoothly for their customers. Vokèra is a part of Riello, a leader in high energy-efficiency heating and climate solutions.
Hosted by David Iszchak, Technical Trainer at Vokèra for over 15 years, the video series reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting installers at every stage of their journey, from first install to long-term servicing. By making expert guidance freely accessible online, Vokèra aims to reduce installation time, build installer confidence and ensure a seamless experience for homeowners from day one.

Effectively accessing and maximising government funding is key for social housing providers looking to boost energy efficiencies for tenants, lower emissions across housing stock, and meet the current required EPC Band C minimum rating by 2030.  

Whilst improving insulation is amongst the measures that can increase SAP points, heating control solutions can also provide an uplift with minimum disruption.

With many properties sitting at a high Band D, Time and Temperature Zone Control (TTZC), can be a cost-effective retrofit solution to provide an average uplift of between two and three SAP points, helping to improve energy performance and achieve targets. 

For housing associations, maintaining efficient and reliable heating systems across large and diverse property portfolios remains a significant challenge. Ensuring tenant comfort, meeting sustainability goals, and keeping maintenance costs under control all depend on one critical factor — system protection.

Across thousands of homes, even minor inefficiencies can lead to increased energy consumption, higher maintenance workloads, and dissatisfied residents. In almost every heating system, contamination occurs over time, such as rust, dirt and magnetite particles caused by corrosion and if left untreated, these particles circulate through pipework and components, reducing efficiency, increasing wear, and potentially causing costly breakdowns.

Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions has been helping with a study at the University of Salford and the Energy House 2.0 research project in conjunction with Bellway Homes. The research looks at the effects of the planned Future Homes Building Standard (FHS) and how this will impact on new build properties. This experimental eco home is a ground-breaking research study by the University, combining eco efficient processes to meet the impending Future Homes Standard (FHS) for new build houses. The research also tests how low-carbon technologies impact the cost of living. The Future Home at Energy House 2.0 is built by Bellway inside a climate-controlled chamber at the university. Panasonic is one of the manufacturers selected to power the heating with its Aquarea J Series air-to-water heat pump.