Panasonic Supports Together Housing's Commercial Decarbonisation Journey with R290 Heat Pump Installation

Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions has successfully supported Together Housing in the decarbonisation of Prospect House, demonstrating how commercial buildings can transition away from fossil fuel heating while improving comfort, efficiency and sustainability.

The project marks another milestone in the long-standing partnership between Panasonic and Together Housing, which has already delivered more than 2,000 domestic heat pump retrofits across the housing association's residential portfolio. Building on this success, Together Housing has now expanded its decarbonisation programme into commercial properties as part of its ambitious commitment to achieve net zero and remove fossil fuels from its buildings by 2038. 

To support the project, Panasonic's M Series R290 air-to-water heat pumps were installed at Prospect House, replacing three gas boilers with four 30kW units. Designed specifically for larger commercial applications, the M Series provides a flexible, low-carbon solution capable of delivering high-performance heating while reducing carbon emissions and running costs. 

"Together Housing have been an absolute leader in terms of their decarbonisation journey," said Stevie Mardy, Key Account Manager at Panasonic. "They've recently hit a milestone of 2,000 retrofits with Panasonic across their domestic properties, and moving into commercial decarbonisation was the natural next step. As an existing trusted partner, we were able to provide the ideal solution to support their ambitions." 

Together Housing has set ambitious sustainability targets, including the removal of fossil fuel heating from at least 29,000 homes while also decarbonising its commercial estate. The organisation actively tracks progress through a carbon reduction dashboard, monitoring savings and environmental impact across its portfolio. 

According to Gemma Voaden, Senior Manager Net Zero at Together Housing, the new heating system has delivered immediate benefits.

"Our ambitions for net zero and decarbonisation are massive. We want to get all fossil fuels out of our properties by 2038," said Gemma. "At Prospect House, the new system has created a far more stable environment. Previously, heating was often either on or off, with some areas too warm and others not warm enough. The Panasonic solution has created a much more consistent and comfortable working environment." 

In addition to improved comfort, the move away from gas has delivered operational savings through the elimination of gas standing charges and reduced energy consumption resulting from greater system efficiency and stability. 

The installation was delivered by Concept Heating, a long-term Panasonic partner with extensive experience installing Panasonic heat pumps across residential properties.

"We've been fitting Panasonic units for more than three years and have developed a strong understanding of the technology," said Ian Davies, Technical Manager at Concept Heating. "The systems are straightforward to install, easy for customers to use, and this project was completed with minimal disruption. Overall, it's been a great solution for both the customer and end users." 

The Panasonic M Series uses natural refrigerant R290 and is designed for commercial applications requiring higher outputs. Available in capacities up to 30kW per unit and capable of being cascaded, the solution offers a practical route to decarbonisation for a wide range of commercial buildings. 

For Together Housing, the project serves as a live demonstration that heat pump technology can successfully deliver reliable, low-carbon heating across diverse building types.

"Our employees would have these systems in their own homes if they could," added Gemma. "That speaks volumes about our confidence in the technology. We know it works, and we're happy to showcase it."

Stevie concluded: "Every organisation is on its own journey to net zero. Prospect House is a fantastic example of how Panasonic can support commercial decarbonisation projects alongside proven domestic retrofit programmes. Together, we're demonstrating how organisations can move away from fossil fuels while maintaining comfort and performance."