How Axair Slashed Energy Use at London’s Grade I-Listed Guild Hall

When our client reached out about their plans to upgrade the ventilation at The Guild Hall in London, we were all ears, even with it being a few days until the Christmas break, no one was on the slow mince pie lull here for sure. The client had just completed a whole-building energy assessment and were looking for smart ways to cut carbon emissions. With funding from Salix, a scheme that helps the public sector reduce emissions in line with the UK’s net-zero targets, they were ready to make some serious changes.

The building itself? A stunner. Built in the 1440s, Grade I listed, and steeped in history, with a Grade II listed wing thrown in for good measure. You’d expect a heritage site like this to come with restrictions galore, but in this case? Not really. Access was straightforward, ceiling heights were generous, and removing the old gear wasn’t going to be a headache. That meant we could focus on doing what we do best: upgrading their tired, old, belt-driven fans with something modern, efficient, and energy-saving, something specified right, following the right pre-sales interactions and some great calculations and forward project modelling, all without damaging the building’s historic charm.

Focusing On A Reduction In Energy Consumption

The client’s main goal was a solid return on investment. They weren’t overly concerned with things like stock availability or cost as long as the outcome was right. That said, we still had to think smart, after all, this is a space that hosts the Lord Mayor’s banquet and other high-profile events, so noisy fans were a no-go, so was overperceiving as we’re keen on getting the right product for every customer, not just what’s on a sales plan.

They’d already spoken to a bunch of ventilation companies, but most didn’t engage seriously, especially with limited info and it being right before Christmas. But we don’t do the whole “Let’s talk in January.”  Even that close to Christmas. We treat every project with the same energy, whether it’s a last-minute job or a large scale long-term plan. So, we rolled up our sleeves, took a proper consultative approach, and dug into the details to find the right solution that would hit their CO₂ emission and energy reduction targets.

Here’s What The Job Looked Like

 We removed 28 fan sets and replaced them with 14 new supply units and 14 exhaust units. These covered the entire building, all based on detailed specs provided by the M&E consultant, including airflow duties and absorbed power figures. Our team used our in-house fan selection software (plus a few clever tricks) to quickly nail down the right products.

The setup included a mix of 1x1, 2x1, and a hefty 4x2 fan array that formed a plenum chamber in the basement plant room that covered efficient air distribution to all of the other air handing units. That chamber helped smooth out the airflow, making the whole system more efficient and quieter, which was crucial for this kind of venue.

And The End Result?

Now, we won’t lie, this one took time. We went through 24 spec revisions with the M&E team to get everything spot on. But both sides stayed motivated, and the end result was worth it.

Like any complex install, we hit a few bumps, particularly with ModBus connectivity. Normally, controls sit with the BMS team, but this time, we got hands-on. Our tech team collaborated directly with them and the component manufacturers to sort out register issues and ensure everything was commissioned without a hitch.

Final readings showed a clear reduction in energy use (although we didn’t get official numbers from the client but they old us, so that counts). But the real win? We’ve continued to work with both the contractor and the consultant on more projects off the back of this one. That’s the kind of result we like, solid partnerships, clear outcomes and smarter, cleaner buildings. View more case studies by downloading our EC FanGrid case study booklet.

Thinking of A Retrofit? 

Thinking of a retrofit? Download our EC FanGrid technical white paper for more information or contact us for a no obligation chat and see how quickly you can cut energy costs and CO₂.