Fernando de la Cruz Quintanilla, Airzone’s EMEA new markets director, has commented on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) expansion, which is to include new upgrade options and ways to spread the upfront cost. He also discussed why summer is the best time to upgrade boilers and HVAC control systems.
The proposed expansion of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme announced last month, is a clear signal that the government sees heat decarbonisation as a national priority. While upgrading to a heat pump is a step in the right direction, it’s the integration of smart HVAC controls that unlocks optimal performance. It also lowers operating costs, and critically, helps landlords hit the EPC ratings needed to meet new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) by 2027. Without smart controls in place, businesses risk missing out on the full energy-saving and emissions-reducing potential these systems offer.
Currently, property owners have only until 2027 to benefit from the UK’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The scheme offers grants of up to £7,500 to cover part of the cost and installation of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a ground source or air source heat pump, or a biomass boiler for non-residential buildings.
In addition to energy savings for heating, heat pumps offer a major advantage over traditional boilers: their ability to produce chilled water for cooling during the summer months. This means homeowners can enjoy year-round thermal comfort using a single system, without the need for separate air conditioning equipment. Investing in a heat pump is not just about modernising your heating system, it is also about future-proofing your home against increasingly hot summers.
The summer months are a golden window, not only to upgrade boilers but also to reassess how entire HVAC systems are managed. We’re seeing more owners and facilities managers using these warmer periods to make proactive upgrades, not just to avoid downtime, but to stay ahead of compliance pressures. The smartest investment right now is not just in cleaner hardware, but in the intelligence that runs it.