D3associates

27/05/2026

Great to see the D3A team back at Rosyth Methodist Church today as work continues on the church’s journey towards Net Zero.

Phase 1 has now been completed, including the installation of:
- a 29kWp solar PV system
- a 23kWh battery storage system

Attention now turns to Phase 2, which will focus on replacing the existing gas boiler with a low-carbon heating solution - another important step towards full Net Zero operation for the building.

25/03/2026

Many people don't realise how many communal heating systems across the UK are still running on oil and in today's climate, that's a real problem.

Unlike gas or electricity, oil is unregulated. No price cap, no protection - just full exposure to market forces at a time of ongoing global volatility.

With heat now regulated by OFGEM and the Heat Ombudsman in place since 2025, operators can no longer simply pass rising fuel costs on to residents through the heat tariff which adds further financial pressure to an already challenging picture.

When you factor in systems already running below optimal efficiency, the unnecessary costs add up fast.

That's exactly why we're targeting these sites.

In direct response to the challenges oil-fired sites are facing, we're offering a Reduced Cost Optimisation Study: a thorough review of system performance, identifying inefficiencies and delivering a clear pathway to lower fuel costs. Available at a significantly reduced rate for a limited number of sites, and designed to be self-funded through the savings it identifies.

D3A brings extensive experience delivering optimisation studies across both District and Communal Heating schemes, utilising HNES grant funding where available, and with a strong track record of self-funded studies where sites don't meet the criteria.

If you manage or advise on an oil-fired communal heating site, now is the time to act.

Get in touch to secure your reduced-cost study.

03/03/2026

Rosyth Methodist Church is taking meaningful steps towards Net Zero.

D3A is close to completing the first phase of decarbonisation works for this active congregation. With support from Scotland’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), the Church is installing:

- A 29kWp solar PV system
- A 23kWh battery storage system

The system is forecast to generate around 22,000kWh of electricity per year - supplying the majority of the Church’s future electrical demand and significantly reducing reliance on grid electricity. The addition of battery storage will allow surplus daytime generation to be used in the evenings, improving both carbon savings and financial performance.

This will just be the start, with renewable electricity generation in place, the next phase will focus on replacing the existing gas boiler with a low-carbon heating solution - moving the building closer to full Net Zero operation.

We’ll be sharing more on that stage in the coming weeks.

03/02/2026

We’re getting ready for Flourish 26 - the three-day gathering organised by our client, the Yorkshire North and East Methodist District. Taking place 13–15 February 2026 at the University of York, the event is all about helping people “flourish” in their faith and community life.

Geoff and Paul will be on our stand, and our freshly printed materials have just arrived - thanks to Northern Print Solutions for the speedy turnaround 🙌

Come and say hello - we’re always happy to chat about making church buildings more sustainable.

20/01/2026

Today our Energy Team are visiting Peter Lee Memorial Methodist Church to carry out an energy audit, supporting the building’s journey towards a more sustainable future.

What makes this especially interesting is the history behind the name. The church is named after Peter Lee, a miner, Methodist preacher and community leader - and the man who gave his name to the new town of Peterlee.

It’s great to be working with a building that reflects both local heritage and practical action on sustainability.

06/01/2026

Starting the year on a positive note, it’s great to see The Church of England taking practical steps to tackle the housing crisis.

The Housing Project, inspired by the Coming Home Report, shows how church land and buildings can provide affordable, sustainable homes - and strengthen communities at the same time.

Many parishes face challenges with ageing buildings or underused land, but these can become opportunities: adding homes above a hall, or redeveloping surplus land to provide housing alongside improved facilities.

At D3A, we work with churches to make their buildings more sustainable and move them closer to Net Zero. Projects like this show what’s possible when values, community need and good property strategy come together.

If your parish or diocese is exploring how land or buildings could better serve the community - sustainably and responsibly - we’d be happy to start a conversation.

You can see some of the transformations carried out by the Church of England here:

Stories of Transformation Church land and property are not just assets to manage - they are foundations for thriving lives and communities!Once we see meeting housing need as an integral part of our mission, everything changes. St Stephen’s Gloucester The large old St Stephen’s vicarage was no l...

05/01/2026

Happy New Year to our clients, partners, and suppliers. Thank you for a great year of collaboration. Wishing you a successful year ahead, and we look forward to working together again.

26/11/2025

Great news all round!

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced it will continue supporting projects in churches, chapels, mandirs, mosques and more - offering grants from £10,000 to £10 million to help protect and celebrate these amazing historic buildings. Since 1994, they’ve awarded over £1bn to more than 8,200 places of worship across the UK!

This is especially welcome news for our church clients, as access to funding often sits at the top of their list of concerns.

It’s also great news for us at D3A as we continue to work with and support churches on their journey toward decarbonisation and long-term sustainability. Continued funding like this helps ensure these important buildings can be cared for, maintained and made more sustainable for the future.

A brilliant boost for heritage, community and climate action.

https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/videos/how-do-we-support-historic-places-worship?mtm_campaign=news&mtm_source=newsletter&mtm_medium=email&mtm_content=places-of-worship-video&mtm_group=newsletter1125&dm_i=12AA,92W72,KUYL4J,11ZGAY,1

We provide grants from £10,000 to £10million to ensure that the heritage of churches, chapels, mandirs, mosques and more are protected and celebrated. In this video, members of our team introduce example projects and explain how to apply for funding.

29/10/2025

With UK Government ambitions that 20% of all space heating and hot water is fed from Heat Networks by 2050, it’s clear that reliable, efficient systems will be vital to reaching Net Zero.

The new Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) is here to raise standards - improving performance, reliability, and consumer confidence across the sector.

At D3A we’re supporting clients through this transition, ensuring their projects align with HNTAS requirements and deliver lasting results. If we can help you through the HNTAS transition get in touch with Stuart O'Neil to get the process started.

28/10/2025

We’ve always believed that a strong quality management system is key to doing great work but earlier this year, we decided to take that commitment one step further by pursuing ISO9001 accreditation.

Today, we’re proud to say that D3A is officially ISO9001 accredited! 👏

Special mention goes to Stuart O’Neil for driving this through. Your hard work and determination made this achievement possible.

For us, this isn’t just a certificate on the wall - it’s the start of an ongoing journey of continuous improvement. Everything we do is focused on delivering great outcomes for our clients, and these enhanced systems will help us build on the high level of service we already provide, while learning and improving as we grow.