
Helping Horfield Health Centre achieve energy efficiency and decarbonisation with a comprehensive commercial energy survey.
We recently partnered with Horfield Health Centre, a local GP surgery dedicated to reducing their environmental impact and cutting costs. Their green impact team was eager to find effective ways to boost sustainability and support the NHS’s Net Zero goal for 2040. We helped them pinpoint major energy-saving opportunities, empowering them to make smart decarbonisation choices backed by data.
Here’s how we helped Horfield Health Centre achieve their sustainability goals:
- Shrink their carbon footprint and boost energy efficiency: We identified the root causes of energy waste, paving the way for significant reductions in both energy use and environmental impact.
- Prioritise cost-effective improvements: We suggested data-driven, budget-friendly measures to optimise their investments.
- Make informed decisions: We provided clear insights to guide their upgrade choices and ensure long-term success.
The Challenge: Decarbonisation Guidance
Horfield Health Centre was committed to reducing its environmental impact and cutting costs, but they were unsure of the most effective way to achieve these goals. Their outdated gas boiler system, poor EPC rating, and high carbon emissions indicated a need for improvement. While they were interested in exploring new heating system options and reducing their EPC score, they were overwhelmed by the cost of potential solutions like heat pump installations. Faced with these challenges, they recognised the need for expert guidance to develop a comprehensive decarbonisation plan that would address the root causes of their building’s energy inefficiencies and provide a clear path forward for long-term energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint.
The Existing Issues
The Health Centre was experiencing numerous issues with:
- Poorly insulated walls, floors, roofs, and doors
- High energy bills
- Overheating issues in the summer
- Standard gas boiler central heating system with connecting wet radiators and a centralised control system (functional but not optimal for energy efficiency due to constant use of fossil fuels)
- Dated windows with poorly insulated secondary glazing, decaying frames, and loose seals
- The building was constructed in two phases and the building fabric and insulation was unknown in most areas
The Solution: Commercial Energy Survey
Our commercial energy survey, combined with additional energy efficiency testing, provided a holistic view of the building’s energy use. This comprehensive approach allowed us to create a detailed report with specific recommendations.
Our analysis included:
- On-site condition inspection to identify areas of heat loss and potential improvements
- Air tightness test to reveal areas where air leakage occurs
- Thermal imaging survey to check insulation continuity, assess thermal bridges, and inspect air leakage through fabrics
- Cavity wall inspection to look for evidence of cavity wall insulation and its potential condition
- IOE (Improvement, Option, Evaluation) modelling to assess potential improvement options for prioritising cost-effectiveness
The Results: Unveiling the Root Cause
Our surveys and testing revealed a critical insight: that poor insulation, not an inefficient heating system, was the main culprit for energy waste. Here’s a breakdown of the test results:
- Air Test: The building exhibited significant air leakage, the equivalent of having several windows open through the winter. The air leakage exceeded the new build standard by a wide margin – indicated to be 25 m3.h-1.m2@50Pa compared to the standard of 5. Existing buildings typically score between 10-15. This excessive air leakage, primarily due to a lack of sealing above suspended ceilings and ageing seals around windows, was a major contributor to energy waste.
- Thermal Imaging Survey: The survey highlighted a general lack of insulation throughout the building and identified areas of air leakage in the eaves, roofs, windows, and doors.
- Cavity Wall Inspection: The inspection confirmed the absence of insulation in key areas, particularly the older part of the Centre. While the newer extension had some mineral fibre sheets that were in okay condition, their depth was insufficient for a substantial effect on heat retention.

To summarise, the air test revealed significant air leakage, the thermal imaging survey revealed areas of insufficient insulation and air leakage, and the cavity wall inspection confirmed the lack of insulation in key areas.
Improvement Option Evaluation Modelling

Our team identified improvement options categorised as either Tier 1 (simple measures) or Tier 2 (larger investments). These were split into building fabric improvements and building service improvements, to be undertaken after installing a new heating system. The suggested measures are estimated to achieve energy savings ranging from £100 to £48,000, depending on the measures implemented.
Tier 1:
- Installing insulation in cavity walls and the ceiling plane
- Adding draught proofing to existing doors and windows
- Upgrading to LED lighting
- Installing more heat sensors and upgrading the heating control system
Tier 2:
- Installing roof insulation
- Replacing windows with new double-glazing
- Installing insulated external doors
- Adding shading to the south side of the building to reduce air conditioning use
- Installing an Air Source Heat Pump
- Installing additional Solar PVs

Final Outcomes: The Potential Impact for Horfield Health Centre
Building Energy Experts provided invaluable guidance on our journey to reduce our environmental impact. Their comprehensive survey quickly identified key areas where we were losing energy and helped us prioritise the most cost-effective solutions. With their support, we’re now able to make informed decisions about our energy upgrades and are well on our way to achieving our sustainability goals.
The Green Impact Team at Horfield Health Centre
The insights from our comprehensive energy survey and testing empowered Horfield Health Centre to:
- Prioritise smart investments: Focus on cost-effective improvements like addressing air leakage and insulation before investing in a new heating system.
- Maximise energy savings: Ensure peak efficiency of a new heating system once the building envelope is improved.
- Make informed decisions: Choose the most suitable and sustainable heating solution based on the building’s specific needs after tackling the root causes of energy waste.
By implementing our recommendations, Horfield Health Centre is projected to achieve a significant reduction in energy consumption, potentially increasing their EPC rating to A 20 and reducing carbon emissions to 7.92 CO2kg/m2. This translates to substantial cost savings on annual energy bills and a dramatically smaller carbon footprint.
What’s Next?
Our commercial energy survey with additional tests provided Horfield Health Centre with the knowledge and insights they needed to confidently embark on a data-driven journey to a greener, more efficient future. By addressing the root causes of energy waste, the Health Centre is now able to significantly reduce its environmental impact, achieve its sustainability goals, and enjoy substantial cost savings.
This case study demonstrates the immense value of our comprehensive approach in laying the foundation for successful commercial decarbonisation and building retrofit projects. It highlights how our in-depth analysis and tailored recommendations can empower businesses to make informed decisions, optimise investments, and achieve long-term sustainability and cost-efficiency gains.
Are you ready to unlock your building’s full potential and embark on your own sustainable transformation? Let’s talk. We’re passionate about helping our customers build well, live comfortably, and save money. Contact us today to discuss your specific project requirements and discover how we can help you decarbonise your business and build a thriving, sustainable future.
