Credit: iStock – Alexey Fedoren
An On the wire story
Bristol City Leap is preparing to retrofit three council-owned buildings with low-carbon heating and efficiency measures in a move designed to cut emissions and strengthen energy resilience across the city’s public estate.
The work will affect Belbrook Children’s Respite Unit, Ridingleaze House and Symes House, with the programme backed in part by Bristol City Council’s Bristol Climate Action Investment, according to the council and Bristol City Leap.
Bristol City Leap, a partnership between Bristol City Council and Ameresco UK, says the three buildings were selected because they rank among the council’s highest corporate emitters and were deemed suitable for decarbonisation under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
The council and project partners say the upgrades should deliver annual savings of about 28 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and cut energy consumption by 154,008kWh, which they estimate is enough to power around 57 typical UK homes for a year.
At Belbrook, the package is broader than a simple heating swap. In addition to an air source heat pump, the site is due to receive rooftop solar panels, LED lighting and extra loft insulation, measures intended to improve comfort for children, families and staff while reducing energy use and bills.
Ridingleaze House and Symes House, both used by Children and Young People Services, will see fossil-fuel boilers replaced with air source heat pumps alongside upgrades to pipework, radiators and controls.
The scheme builds on Bristol’s wider climate finance strategy, after the Bristol Climate Action Investment raised £2 million in 2025 with support from residents and businesses.
Bristol City Leap says the longer-term partnership is intended to draw substantial investment into low-carbon infrastructure across the city, including heat networks, solar power and heat pumps, as Bristol works towards its carbon-neutral target.
Inspired by headline at: The Construction Index [1]
• This On the wire article was created using Noahwire AI and reviewed by CIBSE Journal’s editorial team
