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Social Housing.

Seamless social housing decarbonisation for happier, healthier, safer homes.

Many social homes in England currently sit below Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C. Government-backed programmes like WH:SHF aim to bring these homes up to standard, delivering lower energy bills, reduced carbon emissions, and better living conditions for residents.
At Carbon3, we specialise in delivering largescale retrofit and renewable energy programmes for social housing providers, helping you meet net zero compliance and fuel poverty reduction goals.
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Solar PV for social housing.

To meet the strict 2030 net zero targets for social housing, renewable energy is the simplest way to improve SAP scores. Higher SAP scores help raise EPC ratings, making it easier to get all your homes to EPC C.
Solar energy cuts carbon emissions across your housing stock. Residents save on energy bills, enjoy reliable heating, and can even export unused electricity through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
Think residents in sheltered housing or flats can’t benefit? With advanced systems from our partners, we can wire each flat to its own PV panels. This means each home directly benefits, instead of the energy going to communal areas or back to the grid, which gives lower financial returns.
Air source heat pump installed in UK home by Carbon3

ASHP for social housing.

Replacing old, inefficient gas or oil boilers with modern ASHP systems dramatically cuts heating costs and carbon emissions, while providing stable heat for tenants. Paired with insulation, ASHPs create a low-carbon, efficient heating solution ideally suited to social housing.
Now that Awaab’s Law mandates social housing providers must fix damp and mould issues within days of being notified, heat pumps are a smart choice for social homes. As they keep homes at a consistent temperature and remove moisture from the air when on cooling mode, they keep homes from developing damp and mould. This means you’ll get less complaints and residents will enjoy healthier homes.
UK social housing with Carbon3 EV Charging installation

EV Charging Infrastructure.

Although there is currently no requirement for social housing providers to install EV chargers in existing dwellings, resident adoption of electric vehicles is rising quickly. Demand for reliable, on-site charging is increasing as a result. For new social homes, every associated parking space must now include an EV charger, making EV infrastructure an essential part of long-term asset planning.
Many social landlords are also transitioning to fully electric fleets. Installing chargers across your estates ensures your teams can conveniently recharge while carrying out routine visits and essential works.
Carbon3 can support you in identifying and applying for available EV charging grants, ensuring every installation meets technical and funding requirements.
Through the Carbon3 App, you can set bespoke tariffs for each user group. For example, you might offer free or discounted charging to residents, cost-price charging for fleet vehicles, and higher-rate public charging to create a new revenue stream.
We can also integrate your existing legacy chargers into the platform, giving you full visibility of energy use, ownership, tariffs, and billing. This includes ongoing ESG-ready reporting, helping you meet regulatory and stakeholder expectations.
Carbon3 team providing Battery Storage installation services in Kent

Battery Storage and Solar PV.

Battery storage allows surplus solar electricity to be stored and used when needed, at night or during peak demand. This improves energy self-sufficiency, reduces tenants’ reliance on the grid, and helps manage energy costs more predictably.
Even without solar PV, battery storage provides residents with the opportunity to load shift to avoid peak grid tariffs. It also leaves them with reliable electricity in the event of a black or brownout.
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Complete social housing retrofit.

Good insulation and an efficient building fabric remain the foundation for any retrofit. We can install or upgrade cavity-wall insulation, loft insulation, roof insulation, draught sealing and other measures.
A fabric-first approach reduces heat loss, improves comfort, and lowers energy demand. These fabric-first steps form the baseline for more advanced low-carbon upgrades.
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Funding Support.

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF), formerly SHDF, remains a primary funding route for social landlords seeking to retrofit housing stock to energy-efficient standards. We’ve installed many funded projects, including wave 2.1 and currently wave 3.
Carbon3 also helps clients prepare strong applications, specify eligible measures, and manage every stage from funding allocation through to delivery and compliance. If you need funding, or have won it but aren’t sure where to start, Carbon3 can help.
Our retrofit packages typically include insulation, ASHPs, solar PV, battery storage and EV chargers. No need to worry about maintenance, as our expert O&M team are on hand to fix any issues that arise. This holistic approach increases energy efficiency in the short and long term.
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Resident engagement.

Working in social housing requires sensitivity and clear communication. Carbon3 assigns a dedicated Resident Liaison Officer for each project to explain upgrades and timescales to tenants, and offer support during installation.
This residentfirst approach builds trust, reduces complaints, and improves satisfaction with retrofit works.
“We had loads of meetings and were always in the loop as they say. I can only praise Carbon3. Now there’s a definite change in my bills. Obviously what helps are the solar panels which have been installed.”
– Andy, Gravesham Social Housing Resident.
Engineers maintaining renewable systems in social housing

O&M & Whole Borough Management.

Retrofit is only the first step. Long-term performance depends on reliable Operations and Maintenance. Carbon3 supports housing providers with estate-wide or borough-wide O&M services, combining remote monitoring, preventative care, and rapid reactive maintenance across all renewables.
Our O&M team is dedicated solely to maintenance, they do not work on installations, which gives us some of the fastest response times in the industry. Because they aren’t shared across projects, they are always available when faults occur, helping you minimise resident disruption and keep systems performing at their best.
We’ve worked with boroughs to create clear specification guidance, ensuring every repair is carried out efficiently and consistently. Our engineers are cross-trained across all technologies and always arrive with the right equipment on board; our van stock is standardised to match the spec guidance, so most issues can be resolved in a single visit.
Alongside physical maintenance, we collect system performance data to support EPC updates, compliance audits, and funding requirements.
Renewable Energy Solutions

Why Choose Carbon3?

Choosing Carbon3 means partnering with a leader in renewable energy services committed to sustainability, innovation, and exceptional customer care.

We keep it in-house.

The Carbon3 team provides a turnkey service from surveys and design through to installation and ongoing management of your renewable technology – all of our labour is directly employed.

We’re serious about your success.

We have decades of industry experience, and we know how to get you the best decarbonisation strategy for your needs.

We’ve taken the hassle out of funding.

With our funding partners, we can help you navigate the best funding options for your business, including competitive PPAs if you don’t have upfront capital.

We’re here to help, every step of the way.

One of our decarbonisation experts will guide you through the process and keep you informed and updated. If you need us, our support lines are also open 24/7.

What our customers say.

We are dedicated to our customers and take pride in the exceptional service we provide. See what some of them have to say about us!

“Since 2021, we’ve worked with Carbon3 as our principal contractor for the installation and maintenance of renewable technologies across our social housing stock and council buildings.

Carbon3 has delivered a range of successful projects for us, including solar PV, air source heat pumps, battery storage, and EV charging installations across multiple sites. Their team also supported us in securing Wave 3 SHF financing, handling feasibility surveys, bespoke system designs, and installation with professionalism and efficiency.

Carbon3’s approach to resident engagement and project delivery has been excellent. Their engineers are directly employed, professional, and respectful, ensuring minimal disruption for tenants while maintaining strong communication throughout each project.

The results speak for themselves: across our portfolio, Carbon3’s systems are monitored in real time, achieving efficiencies of over 95% and delivering significant annual savings in both costs and carbon emissions. At one of our sheltered housing schemes, residents have reported noticeable reductions in their energy bills, with EPC ratings improving to Band A in most instances. Resident complaints are at the lowest they have been since Carbon3 has taken over the O&M for ASHPs and solar.

Carbon3 continues to provide our ongoing operations and maintenance service, ensuring our renewable assets remain in top condition and our residents continue to benefit. We value their expertise, reliability, and commitment to delivering long-term social value for our community.”

— Nicole Arthur – Head of Housing Assets, Gravesham Borough Council

    Key Benefits.

    Energy improvements help social landlords cut costs, boost resident wellbeing and meet regulatory demands. These upgrades also support long-term sustainability across your housing stock.
    Provide warm, healthy homes for your residents.
    Reduce tenant energy bills.
    Provide EV infrastructure for your fleet.
    Reach your net zero goals.
    Keep compliant with legislation.
    Avoid costly call outs for damp and mould.

    In need of Renewable Energy
    Service Specialists?

    Let’s Deliver Warm, Energy Efficient Homes Together – Ready to upgrade your social housing assets? Contact Carbon3 today for an estate-wide survey and asset register. We’ll help you evaluate which measures make most sense for your stock, and develop a bespoke comprehensive retrofit plan.

    Frequently Asked Questions.

    If you can’t find the answers you need here, please contact our friendly team contact us.
    Which homes qualify for WH:SHF funding?
    Social rented homes in England below EPC Band C (or with energy performance below required levels) are eligible. Even offgas grid, mixedtenure, or difficult archetypes may qualify. We can help you apply for new waves of the SHF.
    Are the retrofit measures only for single houses, or can they include flats and apartment blocks?
    Both. We can install renewable energy upgrades for all social housing types, including flats, apartments, houses and estate blocks. Carbon3 has experience delivering both individual homes and larger estates.
    Does installing ASHPs or solar require certified installers and compliance standards?
    Yes. All measures should be carried out by certified installers under PAS 2035 / PAS 2030 standards, and solar PV installers must be MCS certified.
    Will retrofit works cause disruption to tenants?
    We plan works carefully with a resident liaison officer, schedule around occupancy, and minimise disruption. Measures like solar and EV installation can be phased or done with minimal impact.
    What long-term maintenance is required?
    Solar PV, heat pumps, battery storage and EV chargers can all come with maintenance plans. Carbon3’s O&M service ensures regular servicing, monitoring, and rapid response to faults to keep costs and disruption low.
    Will these upgrades really make homes warmer and cheaper to run?
    Retrofit measures such as insulation, ASHP heating, and solar energy significantly reduce energy demand and grid usage. Resulting in warmer, more efficient homes and lower bills for tenants. Many social housing landlords already see real savings and uplifted EPC ratings.
    Can vacant or void properties be included in a retrofit programme?
    Most social housing retrofit funding regimes allow voids to be included, and it is easier to install measures on void homes.
    How do we ensure compliance with funding requirements & future regulations?
    Carbon3 manages the full compliance and reporting process: assessment, design, installation, certification and post-installation reporting.

    Services we
    cover.

    Find the best that renewable technology has to offer at Carbon3, and take the guesswork out of decarbonisation with our experienced consulting services.

    Who we work with.

    Mitchells & Butler Logo
    Gravesham Council Logo
    Bellway Logo
    MOD Logo
    Equans Logo
    United Living Logo
    Colchester High School for Girls Logo
    Barking & Dagenham Logo
    Manningtree High School Logo
    Countryside Logo
    Greater London Authority Logo
    Gilberd School Logo
    BDM Logistics Logo
    Roehampton Club Logo
    Home Farm School Logo

    In need of Renewable Energy
    Service Specialists?

    Our core services include the design, installation, repair, maintenance, and inspection of various renewable energy systems for both domestic and commercial properties. Our team is trained to use the latest technology, ensuring your home or business is powered efficiently and sustainably.
    Let us handle all your renewable energy needs, so you can rest assured the job will be done right the first time.
    Contact us now to learn more about our services.

    “Exceptional service,
    professional and friendly.”

    Speak to one of our renewable energy professionals and discuss your project today.

    Get in touch.

    Have a chat with us about your decarbonisation needs today.