To decarbonise social housing, we need to prioritise residents
Decarbonising social housing is a big opportunity for innovation. With the UK government’s push to cut carbon emissions and the growth of smart home technologies, social housing providers are in a strong position to make a real difference. But as we move forward, one thing is clear—residents’ needs must come first.
Smart meters, energy-efficient heating systems, and tariff integrations are becoming more common, helping tenants better manage their energy use and lower bills. The numbers are impressive. The English Housing Survey (2022-2023) shows that 56% of local authority renters and 50% of housing association renters have electricity smart meters, ahead of private renters and homeowners.
There are still some challenges. Many smart devices have complex interfaces or limited compatibility, making them difficult for residents to use. Additionally, many residents don’t understand how these devices work with smart tariffs, which are key to reducing electricity costs at home.
Adopting green technologies is no longer just a forward-thinking idea—it’s now a practical necessity. Programs like the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and the £1.2 billion Warm Homes Plan are speeding up the move toward energy efficiency and low-carbon heating. For example, Wave 2.1 of the SHDF increased the use of low-carbon heating measures to 25% in funded properties.
It’s time to rethink how social housing uses smart technologies to provide energy savings, safety, and comfort—while keeping things simple and convenient for residents.
The challenges smart home heating faces in a cost-of-living crisis
The electrification of heating means increased electricity use in homes. With electricity costs still high—and likely to stay that way—using smart tariffs is essential to keep heating costs manageable.
According to the DESNEZ Public Attitudes Tracker (Summer 2022), about 12% of UK households were on a ‘time of use’ electricity tariff, where costs vary based on the time of day. This includes 9% on dual-rate tariffs and only 1% on agile (dynamic) tariffs. Interestingly, 17% of people didn’t even know what type of tariff they were on.
We don’t know how many of these households are in social housing, but we do know that social housing makes up nearly 20% of the total housing in the UK.
Awareness of smart tariffs is improving, but understanding them is still far from widespread. Most social housing residents aren’t going to spend time “hunting” for the best tariff. They want a system that works for their needs, quietly and reliably in the background.
This shows the need for innovation—not to make systems more complicated, but to simplify them so they fit how people actually live.
It’s not just smart heating systems we need to think about. Many social housing properties still rely on old, traditional hot water cylinders. In some cases, residents have turned their hot water cylinders off entirely because of financial strain. This can pose health risks, like Legionella, and during winter, hot water is critical for keeping people warm and safe.
How Mixergy saves residents money, with minimal effort
At Mixergy, our smart hot water cylinders are designed to meet the needs of both housing providers and residents. Here’s how our technology helps improve social housing management.
Easy for Residents
Our cylinders operate quietly and efficiently, requiring little to no effort from residents. They provide reliable hot water while helping save on energy costs. Residents can use our app, the manual gauge on the cylinder, or ask their housing provider to make adjustments. Plus, our machine learning handles scheduling automatically.
Energy-Efficient Automation
Unlike traditional systems, Mixergy cylinders use advanced sensors to monitor water levels and temperature, optimizing energy use. Built-in legionella auto-cleansing cycles ensure safety without needing residents to get involved.
Remote Tools for Housing Providers
Housing providers can use remote diagnostics to manage systems more easily. Maintenance is reduced, and potential issues can be identified and resolved quickly, saving time and money.
With a focus on simplicity and efficiency, Mixergy’s technology supports sustainable and inclusive decarbonisation efforts.
What residents with a Mixergy cylinder say
“The App itself is absolutely fantastic, it’s so easy for anybody to use. I can modify so it suits me and it’s saving me a lot of money, about £19 a week. And it’s taken my electricity bill down by two-thirds.”
Mike, Resident of Williams Angie Court in Wales
“We’ve worked out it will be about £500 a year in savings. I’m better off, I can do more, I can spend more money on my grandchildren. It’s the best thing the council has ever done.”
Dorothy Burrows, Resident of Birmingham City Council
“We don’t need to do anything. I just press one button to heat the water if there’s no solar. The hot water is always available when we need it, and since the installation, we haven’t had to refill the oil for summer at all. It’s brilliant.”
Ann, Resident of Havebury Housing
We need to overcome the ‘too smart’ barrier
It’s not just about being smart—it’s about being practical. By 2029, 7.7 million UK households are expected to use smart energy management systems, reflecting the growing demand in this sector. However, many devices still face issues with working together seamlessly.
For residents to fully benefit from off-peak tariffs, combined heating solutions, and overall energy savings, smart technologies need to work well together within home energy management systems. The key to solving this challenge is collaboration—by integrating systems and focusing on simple, user-friendly designs, we can create solutions that are easier to implement and manage, especially within social housing.
Mixergy works with any heat source, including gas, heat pumps, solar PV, and direct electric. It’s built to last and adapt as the needs of your home change over time.
Let’s put residents back in control
At its heart, decarbonising social housing isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a human one. Cost-of-living pressures continue to force households to make difficult choices about energy use. That’s why the solutions we offer must acknowledge and respond to this reality.
To meet ambitious climate goals and empower residents simultaneously, technology must work for them, not require excessive input from them. By automating complex processes, reducing inefficiencies, and integrating seamlessly into homes, we ensure that everyone can benefit—not only from energy savings but from a better, safer quality of life.
Work with us
Our mission is to help social housing providers across the UK take control of their hot water.
Book your free consultation with Peter McBride, Specification Director at Mixergy. We’d love to hear about the challenges you’re facing and show you how Mixergy can save your tenants money, meet your EPC requirements, and integrate easily into any home heating system.
Read our case study: 1,000 Cylinders and Counting: How Birmingham City Council is Meeting Net Zero Goals with Mixergy
