A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: HOW THE PUBLIC SECTOR CAN TACKLE ENERGY TARGETS

Simon Briggs, Energy Lead at complete construction partner Stepnell, believes that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to makin g the public sector’s building stock more efficient. However, faced with an ageing building stock and stringent budgets, climate change plans should be actioned unique to each building and its useage.

ver the past decade, discourse has been replaced with more practical action by local authorities, and with the support of Government, to achieve net-zero targets. Unfortunately, that same period has borne the brunt of a pandemic and a perfect storm of global unrest and supply issues that have caused wholesale energy prices to rocket, significantly tightening the public sector purse strings at a time when estates continue to depreciate.

What this situation means is that the public sector has had to become increasingly savvy with how it spends on energy-efficiency measures. It is balancing big, statement changes –usually requiring a significant amount of capital expenditure (CapEx) – with more incremental changes that might not make headlines, but do materially help reduce emissions and – crucially –operating costs.

Across Step Energy projects, our business of renewable energy specialists, we work with public sector clients on a fabric-first approach – taking into account the energy hierarchy and tackling inefficiencies before looking at more substantial changes. The reality is that the varied scale and condition of the public sector estate means there is no one-sizefits-all, copy and paste solution that can be rolled out nationwide, so it is critical for consultants and clients to work collaboratively to look at adaptive solutions with phased approaches.

Naturally, some local authorities can make a bigger upfront investment than others. In such cases, big-ticket items, such as photovoltaic (PV) arrays, are a popular option, flipping the pyramid in a way that expedites decarbonisation, creates cash flow and reduces payback periods. The cost saving can fund a phased approach to the net-zero journey.

As we see more cases where a client doesn’t have a generous CapEx budget, the solutions created need to strike the balance between efficient energy useage and being smart with the budgets.

The reality is that the landscape is currently in a state of flux, as energy network providers face challenges to cope with the sheer number of renewables projects looking to come onto the grid.

However, through an early engagement process that establishes what the client’s aspirations are in respect to its current energy profile, local authorities and public sector bodies can arm themselves with a comprehensive energy strategy, with actionable changes to achieve carbon net zero on budget and on schedule.