Climate emergency

We have set a target to make all our estate and operations, including fleet, net zero by 2030.

Corporate buildings are defined as those the council both owns and manages directly. These are places where we deliver services ourselves and have full control over how energy is used.

We are currently undertaking net zero carbon surveys to inform the specific interventions which need to be implemented alongside building use optimisation.

Our Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) sets out how an area can reduce carbon emissions and transition to a low-carbon, net zero energy system. It provides an understanding of the nature, scale, rate, and timings of changes needed for the transition to a net zero energy system.

The Greater London Authority commissioned the delivery of a Phase 1 LAEP for the West London sub-region.

Completed in 2023, this strategic plan provided an overview of the existing energy systems across the nine West London boroughs and Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC). It identified priority areas for action to help the region reach its net zero carbon targets.

• Phase 1 LAEP for the West London sub-region (PDF)

Building on this regional evidence base, we developed our own detailed, borough-level Phase 2 LAEP.

Completed in Summer 2025, the plan outlines a clear pathway to transition to a net zero energy system in Hounslow. It identifies key interventions and timelines, prioritises areas for action, and aims to ensure a fair and inclusive transition, supporting both residents and local businesses.

• Phase 2 LAEP for Hounslow borough (PDF)

District Heat Networks

District Heating Networks (DHN) are a low-carbon method of supplying heat to homes and businesses throughout the borough. Excess heat energy that is extracted from renewable sources is supplied to residential homes and businesses through a network of pipes. Renewable sources include:

• the ground
• a body of water
• industrial processes such as manufacturing

Following a feasibility study in 2023, detailed proposals for the initial phase of a district heat network were developed and funding application submitted to the Green Heat Network Fund. We were successful in securing £10.5m funding from the Green Heat Network Fund to support the procurement, commercialisation and construction of Heat Network Phase one.

In December 2025, Hounslow Cabinet approved the commercialisation and procurement of the Heat Network and agreed to establish a contract with a Heat Network Development Partner under a Golder Share Joint Venture model to progress the development of a borough wide heat network.

Phase one of the network will take heat from Thames Water Mogden sewage treatment works to supply low-carbon heating to buildings in Isleworth and Brentford. Subsequent phases will expand to Hounslow and Feltham, with potential to extend to all the across the borough to Heathrow.

The heat network will make an important contribution to wider borough net zero targets, delivering low cost decarbonised heat , while also improving local air quality and mitigating grid constraints.

See also:

• Heat Network project cabinet report (PDF)
• AECOM's feasibility study for mapping the potential of a new heat network in Hounslow (AECOM website)

Strategic Energy Partnership

Cabinet approved the mobilisation and procurement of a Strategic Energy Partnership in December 2025. This is a long-term partnership between the council and the private sector to deliver the borough’s wider climate ambitions, informed by the our Local Area Energy Plan.

The partnership is the primary vehicle through which our climate ambitions, for influencing wider borough emissions in the borough, are delivered. Our role will be as an enabler of emissions reduction across the borough, creating the conditions for investment, delivery and collaboration at scale.

The partnership will include a pipeline of projects and investment opportunities aligned with the Local Area Energy Plan and Climate Emergency Action Plan. These are expected to include, but are not limited to:

• domestic retrofit utilising the Net Zero Neighbourhoods approach
• solar PV and other low-carbon energy initiatives

Net Zero Neighbourhoods will be one of the key projects. This approach intends to improve the energy efficiency of homes and reduce carbon emissions from domestic energy use through coordinated retrofit and neighbourhood-wide improvements that support more sustainable living.

A detailed feasibility study was completed in December 2025. The findings and recommendations were taken forward as part of the development of the Strategic Energy Partnership.

See also:

• Net-Zero Neighbourhoods
• Strategic Energy Partnership mobilisation Cabinet decision (PDF)

Hounslow Green Investment: Supporting a Greener Future Together

We launched the Hounslow Green Investment initiative as part of our commitment to tackling the climate emergency and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

This innovative scheme is designed to raise £5 million to fund a range of local environmental projects that will contribute to a cleaner, greener and healthier borough. This opportunity allows you to support Hounslow's climate goals with investments starting from just £5. It is open to everyone, including:

• residents
• businesses
• community groups
• investors from outside the borough

See also: Hounslow Green Investment. Your voice and your support are essential in helping us shape a sustainable future for all who live and work in Hounslow.

Community Energy Fund

Our Community Energy Fund is in place to help is achieve our goal of achieving net-zero carbon emission by 2050.

This is a decarbonisation grant tailored to community groups to simultaneously reduce their carbon emissions and save on energy bills. Each round of funding offers £250,000 in total, with each community group eligible for up to £40,000 for their project. Projects include installation of:

• solar PV
• air source heat pumps
• glazed windows
• insulation

More information: Community Energy Fund 

We are developing a Climate Change Resilience Plan (CCRP) to assess the risks of climate change on:

• our services
• our assets
• people in the borough

The CCRP will consolidate existing plans to build on work already underway in the borough and identify any gaps to deliver new actions. The CCRP will also seek to reduce climate vulnerabilities in the borough geo-spatially and identify groups adversely sensitive to climate impacts. 

For certain areas of climate resilience, we have a lead role working with partners to develop plans and put in place adaptation measures to appropriately manage the risk of and impact of extreme events. These include:

• Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) : This strategy outlines how the council and other key stakeholders such as the Environment Agency will manage local flood risk in the borough.
• Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP): This plan assesses surface water flood risk in the borough and how to manage this including integration of Suds.
• Thames Estuary 2100 Flood Risk Management Plan: This plan was developed by the Environment Agency and provides strategic direction for managing flood risk in the Thames Estuary.
• Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy: This strategy is an essential component of resilience. It sets out programmes in our green and blue spaces to both mitigate against climate change and support adaptation.  
• Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP): This plan identifies the priorities for nature recovery in the borough and sets out a programme of strategic actions to conserve, promote and increase biodiversity across the borough and develop resilience.
• Thames Landscape Strategy: A programme of work delivered in partnership with landowners and the local community that aims to improve, enhance and conserve the waterways.
• Severe Weather - Heatwave Plan: Outlines processes for alert dissemination, responsibilities and provides guidance on utilising the Met Office Heat Watch system.

The focus of our activities to promote and encourage sustainable lifestyles for residents are:

• Circular Economy: Consume less, repair, reuse, share and recycle more.
• Energy Efficiency: Improve awareness of how to use appliances, heat and cool homes to reduce energy usage and save money.
• Travel Choice: Increase active travel and use of low emission transport.
• Community and Social Well-being: Empower residents’ participation in tackling the climate emergency.
• Schools: Supporting schools to become Eco-schools.

The focus of our activities to promote and encourage sustainable options for staff are:

• Empower staff-designed and staff-led environment initiatives through the Green Ambassadors Network.
• Incentivise sustainable travel options to and from places of work.
• Promote sustainable behaviours in the workplace to reduce consumption and increase recycling.
• Ensure sustainability and resilience are at the heart of projects and services.
• Provide staff with carbon literacy or equivalent training.