The road to net zero is anything but straightforward—especially for the UK’s older buildings.

Nearly one in five buildings in the UK was constructed before 1919, and these historic properties pose some of the toughest energy challenges. With outdated infrastructure, poor insulation, and restrictions on visual or structural alterations, they are among the hardest to retrofit for modern energy efficiency standards. Yet they are also some of the least efficient and most costly to run.

In sectors like hospitality, education, care, and retail—where many older properties remain in daily use—this creates serious financial and environmental strain.

The Problem: High Costs, Low Efficiency, and Limited Options

According to the UK Parliament’s Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology “Historic buildings are more likely to have low energy efficiency ratings and high carbon emissions.” But due to listed status or design sensitivities, they are often exempt or restricted from structural energy retrofit interventions, such as replacing windows, cladding walls, or altering mechanical systems. Even when upgrades are possible, costs are often prohibitive and require significant downtime, displacing operations or customers in the process.

The Solution: Eden’s Disruptive Technology That Doesn’t Disrupt Buildings

That’s where Eden Energy Partners comes in. Our energy efficiency technology (OH4) has proven particularly effective in older, inefficient buildings, where traditional retrofit options are either not viable or not affordable.

Our approach is non-invasive, non-disruptive, and doesn’t alter the building’s structure or appearance in any way. There’s no drilling into walls, no visible impact on interiors, and no compliance issues with heritage guidelines. That makes it ideal for Grade-listed buildings, heritage sites, and character properties as well as any older commercial buildings not fit for modern energy standards.

How it Works: Small Change, Big Results

Our OH4 technology works by improving the heat transfer capabilities of water in existing heating systems. Through enhanced molecular conductivity, water heats up faster, meaning boilers and heat pumps use significantly less energy to achieve the same output.

Installations are completed in a single day, without turning off your heating or disrupting your service. And with no structural or visual impact, the solution is invisible to guests, staff, inspectors, or planning officers.

The Results: High Savings in Hardest-to-heat Buildings

Older buildings are where we see some of its biggest savings, because that’s where the inefficiencies are most pronounced. Gas, oil, and LPG systems typically see 24% average savings, while heat pumps can deliver up to 40% reductions in energy consumption. These savings are even more impactful for buildings that need heating (or cooling) seven days a week, such as care homes, pubs, schools, and hotels.

What’s more, Eden’s flexible payment plans allow you to spread the cost over 12–36 months, with the monthly savings often covering the payments. That makes Eden cash-flow positive from day one, freeing up budget to reinvest in staffing, facilities, or further upgrades.

Futureproofing Without Sacrifice

Eden offers a rare win-win for historic buildings: meaningful, measurable energy efficiency without compromising the building’s integrity, heritage, or daily use.

“Ensuring historic buildings contribute to net zero targets without compromising their heritage values requires innovative solutions.” Eden is one such solution, ready to scale, simple to install, and tailored for the very buildings the UK is struggling to bring up to standard.

 

If you’re managing an older building and feel stuck between energy targets and upgrade restrictions, Eden offers a way forward. Immediate savings, lower emissions, and no compromises required.

Ready to futureproof your past?