Energy & Decarbonisation
The biggest energy improvements in social housing don't look like technology at first glance. They look like new heating systems, insulation, and physical upgrades. But data is what makes these programmes possible at scale — targeting investment, measuring outcomes, and proving impact.
Data platforms are being used to model entire housing portfolios — identifying where investment will have the most impact before a penny is spent. Sava is helping providers like Broadland Housing and Soha Housing target retrofit programmes precisely, rather than taking a blanket approach. Kensa is deploying ground source heat pumps at scale across Thurrock's tower blocks and One Manchester's stock.
The outcomes are significant. Heating bills reduced by up to 50%. Carbon emissions cut by 70% in some programmes. For residents, this means warmer homes, lower bills, and reduced risk of damp. Coventry City Council, working with E.ON and Kestrix, is using AI-powered drone thermal imaging to create a city-wide map of heat loss — enabling targeted retrofit investment for residents most affected by fuel poverty.
The gap is between organisations using data to target and prove impact, and those still taking a reactive or blanket approach. As retrofit funding becomes more competitive and scrutinised, that difference will matter more.
Case studies
Written-up examples from UK housing providers, with named organisations and measurable outcomes.
Deployed Switchee smart thermostats and IoT humidity sensors across their older housing stock to monitor conditions in real time. Moved from waiting for residents to report damp and mould to identifying risk as it builds.
Proactive maintenance replacing reactive callouts. Maintenance costs fell. Residents reported fewer respiratory issues. Full portfolio visibility achieved without physical inspections.
Delivered a large-scale ground source heat pump programme across Thurrock's tower blocks, replacing fossil fuel heating with low-carbon alternatives.
Significant reduction in carbon emissions and heating costs for residents in some of the most hard-to-decarbonise housing stock.
Partnered with E.ON and AI startup Kestrix to create a "Google Maps of heat loss" for the city — using AI-powered drone thermal imaging to rapidly scan and map heat loss across residential stock and identify retrofit priorities.
Rapid thermal mapping of over 6,000 homes, identifying exactly where insulation was failing. Data-driven approach allows targeted retrofit funding for the most vulnerable residents.
Also worth reading
Further examples from the Proven Public database — not yet written up in full.