Download Carbon Minded White Paper written on behalf of Brighton University’s Green Growth Platform

ENERGY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CONTROLLABLE OVERHEADS IN MANY PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDINGS SO THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SAVINGS.

“Reducing energy costs is one of the key tasks of public sector energy managers and this has traditionally been done by monitoring billing data and achieving the best price for energy through active engagement with buying groups to achieve economies of scale.  However, besides the simple management of costs public sector energy managers have long known that investing in newer, more reliable, and more efficient equipment, such as new lighting, as well as staff training, can yield significant energy savings over the short, medium and long term.”

Some Key Points

Local authorities’ spending per person cut by 23.4% in real terms between 2009/10 and 2014/15:- Institute for Fiscal Studies

There have traditionally been three options for financing energy efficiency projects in the public sector:

• Internal Funding including a capital works budget
• Prudential borrowing
• Salix Financing

The public sector needs to think more creatively about how to fund energy efficiency works if projects are to be developed and local authority and other assets are to be upgraded and improved.

• £790k net benefit to local authorities from utilising Invest to save scheme