Hampton Court Palace Trials Smart Hot Water Tech to Cut Emissions in Historic Buildings
Mixergy, the British technology company that transforms hot water tanks from passive storage into intelligent, connected energy assets, has partnered with Historic Royal Palaces to trial cutting-edge smart cylinders at Hampton Court Palace. The pilot aims to show how heritage buildings can significantly reduce carbon emissions while preserving their historic fabric.
For heritage sites, achieving deep decarbonisation is notoriously difficult because of the challenge of balancing new technologies and approaches with conservation requirements. Hampton Court Palace, with over half a million visitors each year, has a high and varied hot water demand, from public washrooms serving thousands daily to large-scale catering facilities. Conventional systems keep vast amounts of water hot around the clock, wasting energy and increasing carbon output.
Mixergy’s technology takes a radically different approach, heating only the water that is needed, when it is needed. Its patented top-down heating method can cut hot water energy use by up to 40%-60%. This approach has already proven its value, saving Birmingham City Council 172 tonnes of CO₂ over two years across 1,000 smart cylinders. Crucially for the heritage sector, Mixergy cylinders can be installed without major structural modifications, making them suitable for protected buildings where preserving original fabric is paramount.
Pete Armstrong, CEO/CTO of Mixergy, said:
“This partnership proves that even our most treasured historic buildings can embrace cutting-edge technology to achieve dramatic carbon reductions without compromising heritage value or visitor experience. By making hot water systems smarter and more responsive, we’re also unlocking the potential for grid flexibility, enabling historic sites like Hampton Court to play an active role in the UK’s transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system.”
The cylinders’ flexible design means they can integrate with electric, gas, solar PV, or heat pumps. Remote management capabilities enable facilities teams to schedule legionella cleaning cycles, track real-time usage, and activate “holiday mode” during closure periods. These features allow operators to balance efficiency, safety, and operational needs in complex environments.
Jen Stone, Head of Sustainability at Historic Royal Palaces commented:
“Historic buildings represent some of our greatest decarbonisation challenges and opportunities. This trial with Mixergy demonstrates our commitment to pioneering solutions that other heritage organisations can adopt. If we can achieve significant carbon reductions at a site as complex as Hampton Court Palace, we can prove it’s possible for historic buildings across the UK.”
The partnership is part of a wider sustainability strategy across Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for Hampton Court Palace. The strategy seeks to reduce energy consumption, remove fossil fuels from the six sites in HRP’s care, and protect and enhance biodiversity and the landscape surrounding the palaces. At the same time, the partnership gives Mixergy a high-profile platform to demonstrate impact in one of the UK’s most recognisable historic settings. The trial’s findings could influence decarbonisation strategies for other heritage organisations.
This collaboration follows a milestone year for Mixergy, which was awarded the 2024 King’s Award for Innovation and secured multi-million-pound investment led by Barclays Climate Ventures. Mixergy first introduced its concept to Hampton Court Palace at the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Terra Carta anniversary roundtables, where it was invited by Barclays to exhibit alongside other innovators in sustainable technology.
James Ferrier, Director, Barclays Climate Ventures, said:
“Retrofitting buildings is essential for improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions, but options are limited for listed properties as their appearance and structure can’t be changed. Mixergy’s technology whilst applicable to residential and commercial properties is helping to bridge that gap, making it possible to decarbonise even the most challenging parts of our built environment. This pilot is a great example of how Barclays is leveraging our network to help innovative climate tech companies like Mixergy access the partnerships, expertise and commercial opportunities they need to scale at pace.”
Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, M.V.O., CEO, Sustainable Markets Initiative, said:
“Investing in pioneering companies like Mixergy exemplifies how targeted innovation can unlock sustainable transition, even in the world’s most iconic environments such as our cherished historic estates. The Sustainable Markets Initiative is proud to champion and scale such solutions through collaborations that bridge business, heritage, and planet, fostering a ripple effect across global industrial sectors. By enabling deep decarbonisation without compromising architectural integrity, Mixergy’s technology holds the potential to inspire a new era where every building, historic or modern, contributes ambitiously to achieving a sustainable future.”
