2026 September

Rinnai Director Chris Goggin investigates the ability of natural gas to cover all domestic requirements whilst the national task of decarbonisation continues. Natural gas is still integral to UK domestic and commercial property heating and hot water provision. Find out how natural gas can power the UK through decarbonisation aims.

Building-services engineers already work with many of the systems and maintenance principles that appear in modern energy infrastructure. Motors, drives, pumps, fans, electrical distribution, controls, condition monitoring and planned maintenance are familiar parts of the M&E environment

Viessmann Climate Solutions has launched the new Vitocal 200-A ie (intelligent energy) air-to-water heat pump to the UK market.

Three Viessmann 45kw 350-G Vitocal ground source heat pumps are providing year-round under-floor heating and cooling at Waters View, a newly built, state-of-the-art jewellery design, manufacturing, retail, hospitality and education facility in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the edge of the Peak District National Park.

NG Bailey has launched a new business unit focused on unlocking the long-term value of lower carbon buildings, helping organisations turn decarbonisation ambition into practical, investable and measurable action.

Almost three-quarters (74%) of data centre operators in the UK are yet to adopt fully predictive maintenance strategies, highlighting the scale of the need to shift from reactive and preventative approaches to meet mounting expectations around resilience, efficiency and sustainability.

BSRIA has released its latest analysis of the global Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) sector. The Building Automation and Control Systems 2026 report findings point to a market expanding on the back of regulation, Net Zero targets and the steady migration of building operations onto digital platforms.

Commercial and public buildings risk being left behind in the UK’s transition to Net Zero despite more than £40 billion of funding, investment and policy support being directed towards building decarbonisation, according to the latest Policy Pulse report from the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA).

Noah Gaunt of Vaillant Group UK has been named ICOM’s Apprentice of the Year 2026, recognising his outstanding commitment, technical excellence and passion for advancing the future of low carbon heating.

TRILUX has supplied 6,691 luminaires for the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities at the University of Oxford — one of the university’s most ambitious building projects.

A district heat pump scheme at Ruskin College, part of the University of West London, has been delivered using Carrier’s high-temperature R290 technology, overcoming earlier assessments that it was financially unviable.

London food distribution charity Felix is using Beijer Ref’s SEC200 heat recovery technology to help deliver hot water with almost zero energy consumption.

A three-storey office building at Newcastle Quayside is saving 108,000kWh a year thanks to a new integrated reversible heat pump from IV Produkt.

An ECOMOD natural refrigerant air source heat pump from Ideal Commercial Heating has been installed at The Almonry Kitchen, a Grade 1 listed café and event space within the grounds of Ely Cathedral, helping to reduce carbon emissions while preserving the character and heritage of one of the UK’s most historically significant buildings.

Dave Carr, Managing Director at Propeller, explains how cloud based software and AI are helping M&E contractors to work more efficiently, scale faster and keep pace with complex regulatory demands.

Matt Noon, Divisional Director at Integral Cooling Tech, explains why refrigeration uncertainty should prompt organisations to assess ageing assets, plan strategically and prepare now for future regulatory change.

Errol Bull, P.E., CSI, Application Development Leader at Momentive Performance Materials, explains why the roof is your first line of defence in the race to Net Zero.

Mark Griffin, Growth and Development Director at OSM, an NG Bailey company, discusses how off-site engineering is transforming the delivery of works on live operational sites, improving efficiency, safety and programme certainty.

While rising energy costs and the pressure to improve sustainability have led many businesses to consider renewable energy, concerns about capital expenditure have stifled investment. Mark Bramhall, Director of Commercial Strategy at Plug Me In, explains how a commercial solar installation is only the beginning and that, as an asset, the real financial gains come in the 25 years that follow.

Ian Thomas, Product Manager at TROX UK, discusses whether decentralised ventilation can deliver without the need for an air handling unit.

Sontay has announced the launch of WELLSense, a next-generation total indoor air quality (IAQ) sensor developed to meet the growing demand for healthier, smarter and more sustainable buildings.

ACV UK has released the WaterMaster Evo 2 gas-fired condensing water heater and the HeatMaster Evo 2 commercial combi boiler.

Ideal Commercial Heating has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of the EQMAX range of gas-fired condensing water heaters, marking the company’s first move into commercial domestic hot water products.

The specific adaptation of policy that this article will focus on is the proposed modifications into non-domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).  What are these modifications and how do they affect business owners and private renters? 

Rinnai’s Head of Technical, Pete Seddon, discusses how high temperature heat pumps can be considered a vital innovation in relation to the reduction of on-site disruption to a UK customer. Heat pumps have been identified as a tool of decarbonisation and installations are becoming more common in domestic and commercial applications. Find out how investing in a high temperature heat pump can minimise on-site disruption during installation.

Mitsubishi Electric air-to-air heat pumps are now providing cooling to the critically endangered snow leopards at Chester Zoo, supporting their comfort while also helping the zoo reduce energy use across its estate.

A close examination of the crucial role played by fire and smoke control dampers in protecting people and property captures the much wider shift in culture needed to address the whole issue of building safety failings, according to BESA’s Technical Director, Kevin Morrissey.

Steve McConnell, Director at the ICOM, explains why it’s important for the organisation to work closely with manufacturers, suppliers and heating professionals across the commercial and industrial heating sector, and why investing in people is essential if the industry is to maintain standards, improve performance and meet future demand.

When judged on upfront cost alone, low carbon systems can appear more expensive. But when assessed on whole-life performance, energy, maintenance, resilience and asset value, they often reduce the total cost of ownership. Here, Laurie McKelvie, Technical Delivery Lead at IES, challenges the myth that Net Zero building services are financially harmful.