Why More Commercial Estates are Turning to GSHPs

Addressing real estate's energy challenges: cost, compliance and change

For estates teams managing large public or commercial buildings, energy strategy has become a boardroom concern. Heating and cooling infrastructure - historically seen as a behind-the-scenes operational concern - is now under scrutiny for cost, compliance, and future fitness.

Legacy systems are driving up operational costs and exposing estates to financial risk. New standards like MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) now prevent leasing commercial buildings rated below EPC “E”, yet over 13,000 properties in England and Wales are still rated F or G. Efficiency gaps now put asset value, tenant retention and reputation at risk - especially as carbon performance becomes a visible benchmark.

At the same time, energy prices remain unpredictable and demand is set to rise sharply as the grid decarbonises. Buildings already account for 25% of the UK’s total carbon footprint. Reducing that load - and doing so cost-effectively - is fast becoming a priority for any estate that wants to stay future-proof.

A Proven Option for Large Estates

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) use the stable temperature beneath the ground to provide both heating and cooling - efficiently, reliably and without visible infrastructure.

Far from a niche technology, GSHPs are already operating at scale across a range of public and commercial estates. In Central London, Onsen delivered the drilling phase for a large-scale retrofit spanning over 400 homes, demonstrating how GSHP infrastructure can be installed safely and effectively in dense urban environments. At a multi-campus secondary school and college site, a new GSHP system was integrated to support long-term energy efficiency and carbon reduction across diverse building types - all delivered within a live educational setting.

For estates teams managing large or complex portfolios, these projects show what’s possible: year-round system performance, minimal disruption during the install and running costs that can be forecast with confidence. And with guidance from UKGBC and others now recommending systems-level retrofits over fabric-only upgrades, GSHPs are increasingly seen as a dependable route to long-term efficiency and compliance.

Why Ground Source Makes Sense

For estates teams planning major upgrades or futureproofing against compliance risk, GSHPs offer a rare combination: 

• Dual functionality: GSHPs provide both heating and cooling, reducing reliance on multiple systems and simplifying estate-wide energy planning.
• Consistent performance: Because they draw on the stable temperature below ground, GSHPs offer reliable year-round output - avoiding seasonal drop-offs in efficiency and giving estates a more predictable performance profile.
• Low visual and acoustic impact: Unlike air source systems, GSHP infrastructure is located underground, meaning no rooftop units, no exposed equipment and no disruption to the building’s external appearance.
• Long-term financial logic: While GSHPs can involve higher upfront costs, they typically deliver lower running costs, longer operational life and access to grant funding - delivering significant ROI over a typical 15–25 year system lifespan and underground infrastructure lasting in excess of 100 years.
• Retrofit-ready: As retrofit strategies move beyond fabric upgrades to include systems performance, GSHPs offer estates a compliant, scalable way to meet EPC targets, address MEES requirements, and lower energy consumption.

In short, for estates navigating today’s energy, compliance, and budget pressures - ground source isn’t a gamble; it’s a proven path to lower risk and higher resilience.

Let’s Talk

For estates under pressure to cut running costs, meet compliance targets, or futureproof their energy systems, ground source heat is an option worth exploring - and a quick call is the easiest way to explore whether it’s right for your site.

In a 10-minute call, we can:

• Understand what you’re hoping to achieve
• Talk you through the process and practicalities
• Share where we’ve seen GSHP work well - and where it might not
• Help you figure out next steps

There’s no pressure to commit - just practical advice from a team that delivers this kind of work on real sites every day. 

Email gareth@onsenenergy.com and let’s see if GSHP could work for your estate.