Why Low-Carbon Heating Is Now a Board-Level Decision

Episode BriefMost net zero roadmaps have ticked off Scope 2. Renewable tariffs, LED lighting, EV charging. The boiler is still running on gas, and it is still the biggest single source of direct emissions on site. This month we sit down with David Leighton, National Distribution Sales Manager for LG HVAC Solutions across the UK and Ireland, to talk about why heat pumps have stopped being a residential nice-to-have and started being a commercial necessity. We cover the myths holding businesses back, what performance actually looks like at minus seven degrees, and what a realistic transition plan looks like for a multi-site food and beverage or commercial operator working to SECR and SBTi obligations.Show NotesWhat we coverWhy heating sits in a blind spot in most net zero strategies, and what that gap is costing businesses in carbon credibilityThe myths on noise, cold-weather performance and installation disruption that are quietly delaying board-level decisionsWhy the transition feels complicated for multi-site operators, and the practical first step to takeWhat a heating switch actually does to a company's Scope 1 position, energy bill and investor conversationsWhere heat pumps sit in the commercial market five years from nowKey moments00:00 Welcome and introductions03:00 Warm-up: 20 years watching heating go from gas-first to a credible low-carbon alternative08:00 Problem 1: the Scope 1 blind spot in net zero roadmaps18:00 Problem 2: the myths doing real damage to decision-making28:00 Problem 3: why the transition feels complicated, and where to start40:00 Looking ahead, and David's one thing every business leader should do differentlyTimestamps are approximate. Confirm against the final edit before publishing.Facts worth pulling out for the postHeating and hot water account for around 40% of total UK energy consumptionLG's Therma V heat pump holds 100% heating capacity at -7°C, addressing the cold-weather objection directlySwitching from gas or oil to an air-to-water heat pump can cut carbon emissions by up to 70% in a well-insulated UK commercial propertyLG has SBTi-verified targets to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 54.6% by 2030 against a 2017 baselineUnder SECR, UK organisations with 250+ employees or £36m+ turnover must report Scope 1 and 2 emissions annually, and heating is typically a major componentGrant scheme figures and specific savings numbers change. Confirm current amounts with David before this goes out, rather than repeating anything above without a check.Why this mattersA sustainable business can also be a successful business, and this episode is a good example of where that shows up in practice. Food and beverage operators carry large thermal loads and refrigerated space; media, marketing and advertising businesses carry leased office heating decisions and investor-facing ESG reporting. Both sit on the same Scope 1 lever, and both are running out of reasons to leave it untouched.Links and next stepsLG HVAC Solutions: HVAC - Air Conditioning Solutions | LG UK BusinessLeave us a review on your podcast app, it helps other business leaders find the showDo you know an enterprise organisation who might benefit from a chat with me? Please put them in touch.Guest Bio: David LeightonDavid Leighton is National Distribution Sales Manager for LG HVAC Solutions across the UK and Ireland. He has spent over 20 years in the plumbing and heating industry, working with distributors, merchants and specification channels across some of the country's most demanding commercial and industrial markets.Before joining LG Electronics' Energy Solutions division, David held senior roles at Plumbase, where he built deep expertise in heating product distribution and key account management. His background spans solar thermal, heat pumps, gas and oil heating, and B2B channel development.At LG, David's focus is helping businesses see that low-carbon heating is not a compromise; it is a commercially sound decision that also delivers on Scope 1 reduction targets. He sees the gap between sustainability commitments and operational reality every day, and speaks with unusual directness about where businesses are stalling and what it is costing them.About LG HVAC SolutionsLG Electronics is one of the world's leading manufacturers of HVAC systems, operating across residential, light commercial and large commercial sectors. Its HVAC Solutions division in the UK and Ireland covers air conditioning, ventilation and heating, including the Therma V range of air-to-water heat pumps central to commercial building decarbonisation programmes.Mentioned in this episode:Keep informed on Sustainability NewsI'm Will Richardson, Head of Ecosystems at 51toCarbonZero and a sustainability advisor with 25 years in the field. I founded Green Element in 2004 and spent two decades building it into one of Europe's most respected sustainability consultancies before it merged with 51toCarbonZero in November 2025. Climate action is both an obligation and an opportunity, and that's the thread running through everything I write here. I co-created Compare Your Footprint, carbon accounting software recognised as a key player in the Global Carbon Accounting Software Market, and I'm a Fellow of IEMA and a Chartered Environmentalist. Each week, I break down what's actually happening in sustainability: the data, the regulation, the greenwash worth calling out, and the practical steps businesses can take right now. No jargon, no doom-mongering, just clear thinking for people who need to make real decisions. I also host the Sustainability Solved podcast with Charlie Luxton, 200+ episodes and counting, where we talk to the people building the solutions. Based in Scotland. Writing for business leaders who want sustainability to make commercial sense, not just moral sense.Substack BlogUPCOMING WEBINAR: The Scope 3 Blind Spot: What Your Supplier Data Isn't Telling YouScope 3 emissions are often the biggest contributor to an organisation’s carbon footprint, yet many businesses are making decisions based on incomplete, outdated or estimated supplier data. In this webinar, we’ll explore the biggest blind spots in supplier emissions data, why they matter for reporting and decarbonisation, and how leading organisations are moving beyond spreadsheets and assumptions to build a more accurate, scalable approach to Scope 3. LIVE ATTENDANCE BONUS: complimentary gap audit of your top 10 suppliers. Wednesday 16 September | 1pm BST https://www.51tocarbonzero.com/webinar-supply-chain/Supply Chain Webinar