Decarbonising the "hard to heat pump": A pragmatic path for Social Housing

Helping Local Authorities and Housing Associations overcome the “Heat Pump Difficulty” and deliver Net Zero for flats, maisonettes, and dense terraces – without the cost of major structural retrofits.

The "heat pump difficult" reality

A “heat pump only” mindset risks leaving behind the trickiest homes. We address the three primary barriers to urban decarbonisation:

Spatial constraints:

High-density buildings often lack the outdoor space required for external condenser units, making traditional heat pumps a physical impossibility.

Planning & Heritage:

External modifications can lead to months of planning delays or rejections in conservation areas and listed buildings.

Disruption & Complexity:

A traditional low-carbon retrofit is rarely a "swap"; it often involves 3–7 days of invasive work, including ripping up floors to upgrade pipework and replacing every radiator.

From "heat pump difficult" to "rapid retrofit"

Direct replacement:

The ZEB is an entirely internal heat battery engineered to connect directly to the existing flow and return pipework of a standard gas boiler.

Programmatic speed:

With a 1–2 day install that mirrors a boiler replacement, the ZEB allows for rapid rollouts at scale, reducing management overhead and resident friction.

Emitters unchanged:

Avoid the high cost and disruption of a total system overhaul while preserving the building's infrastructure. The ZEB delivers high-flow temperatures that integrate perfectly with existing radiators.

EPC reform ready:

Heat batteries will score a minimum of a C on the Heating System metric in future EPCs, and will contribute towards the Smart Readiness metric, with comparable running costs to gas boilers

Putting residents at the heart of the transition

Decarbonisation shouldn’t come at the cost of resident comfort or financial stability. We’ve designed the ZEB to feel like a familiar boiler while delivering the benefits of a smart energy asset.

  • Optimising resident energy costs:

    The ZEB’s smart charging logic automatically targets the cheapest, greenest electricity tariffs. By shifting demand away from peak times, we help protect residents from the highest energy prices and ensure the transition to electric heat is as affordable as possible.

  • No lifestyle compromises:

    Unlike heat pumps that require a “low and slow” heating approach, the ZEB gives residents the familiar high-temperature heat they want, all via a standard thermostat.

  • Rapid, low-disruption installs:

    By eliminating the need for invasive pipework and radiator upgrades, the ZEB is typically installed in just 1–2 days, minimising the time contractors spend in a resident’s home.

Beyond the hardware: Our professional support ecosystem

We don’t just supply technology; we partner with you to ensure your decarbonisation targets are met with precision and resident satisfaction.

Portfolio mapping & feasibility:

We provide technical data analysis to help you identify the "hard to heat" stock in your portfolio where the ZEB will deliver the highest impact and smoothest transition.

Comprehensive training:

We provide free, expert training for your in-house teams and contractors through our tepeoPRO programme to ensure every installation is efficient, high-quality, and right first time.

Dedicated technical support:

As a UK-based manufacturer, we provide direct access to technical support taking the stress out of complex projects and maintenance.

Ready to decarbonise Your hard to heat stock?

From initial portfolio mapping to technical site surveys, we provide the data and expertise needed to identify where the ZEB can deliver the most impact for your residents.