Develop a data-led organisational strategy to decarbonise your public sector buildings and sites
Strategic Definition, Planning & Briefing
Our guidance, tools and templates will help you set up your organisation to tackle carbon emissions reduction and complements the Net Zero Estate Playbook – developed by the Office of Government Property with support from Energy Systems Catapult.
It includes guidance on timelines, energy data, greenhouse gas reporting as well as developing your stakeholder engagement and communication plans. Tools are available to help you estimate your energy usage into the future and provide a quick assessment of the benefits of implementing certain decarbonisation interventions.
Who should use this guidance?
This Public Sector Decarbonisation Guidance was commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), formerly the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the UK Government Property Function to help public sector bodies and their decarbonisation partners understand the best route to achieving Net Zero. We aim to help deliver decarbonisation projects at scale, as well as support grant funding applications, to enable rapid progress on reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.
This Guidance takes learnings from the Modern Energy Partners (MEP) programme and expertise from across Energy Systems Catapult to provide guidance on heat decarbonisation and energy management.
VIDEO: Developing your Strategy for Public Sector Decarbonisation
Main Guide - Developing and delivering your decarbonisation strategy
This guide supports public sector organisations to develop their decarbonisation strategy and programme with the aim of reducing energy demand and eliminating fossil fuels across your estate.
Download decarbonisation strategy guidance
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Looking to decarbonise your school or college?
Take a look at our sector specific guidance
Visit the schools resource hubDeveloping your Strategy: Extra Guides
Discover 11 available guides
AVAILABLE NOW
- What could decarbonisation look like for you?
- Understanding your energy data
- Stakeholder engagement and communications guide
- Skills and capabilities guide
- Understanding your timelines and risks
- Guidance for the estimator tools
- Supporting local authority senior leaders to tackle the climate emergency
- Greenhouse gas reporting guide
- How to effectively make the case for decarbonisation projects to decision makers
- Glossary of terms
- Building Retrofit Planning – RIBA Plan of Work
Discover 11 available guides
AVAILABLE NOW
- What could decarbonisation look like for you?
- Understanding your energy data
- Stakeholder engagement and communications guide
- Skills and capabilities guide
- Understanding your timelines and risks
- Guidance for the estimator tools
- Supporting local authority senior leaders to tackle the climate emergency
- Greenhouse gas reporting guide
- How to effectively make the case for decarbonisation projects to decision makers
- Glossary of terms
- Building Retrofit Planning – RIBA Plan of Work
What could decarbonisation look like for you?
This guide provides insight into what an overall decarbonisation solution could look like – including various examples of technology and how they can work together.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Understanding your energy data
This short guide helps you to understand your energy data better and how it can inform your strategy and programme development.
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To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Stakeholder engagement and communications guide
This guide helps you think about your stakeholder engagement and communications plans and how these are critical to the success of your programme.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Skills and capabilities guide
This guide covers the skills and capabilities, including referral links to other Public Sector Decarbonisation Guidance, that might be required for each of the activities you and your team need to undertake to deliver a decarbonisation programme.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Understanding your timelines and risks
It can typically take over two years to complete the delivery of decarbonisation projects. This guide helps you consider what needs to be included in your plan and how to manage your
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Guidance for the estimator tools
This document is your supporting user guide for the three estimators available to help you develop your decarbonisation strategy. The estimators are the ‘high-level decarbonisation intervention estimator’, the ‘business as usual estimator’ and the ‘decarbonisation intervention estimator’.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Supporting local authority senior leaders to tackle the climate emergency
This publication is designed to inform and inspire local authority senior leadership to close the gap between climate ambition and action. It includes the actions senior leaders should take, and signposts the available support.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Greenhouse gas reporting guide
This guide covers the basics for greenhouse gas emissions monitoring and reporting. It details the different routes you might use voluntarily, and the associated benefits, as well as mandatory disclosures for public sector organisations.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
How to effectively make the case for decarbonisation projects to decision makers
This guide outlines the key benefits and considerations you should draw on when developing proposals for decarbonisation projects, to get buy-in/support from decision makers within your organisation.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Glossary of terms
This glossary contains explanations of the terminology and organisations commonly used or referred to across the Public Sector Decarbonisation Guidance.
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To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Building Retrofit Planning – RIBA Plan of Work
This guide outlines the actions and processes involved in a building decarbonisation retrofit project, aligning them with the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) Plan of Work.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Developing your Decarbonisation Strategy: Tools & Tutorials
Discover five available tools and accompanying tutorials
AVAILABLE NOW
- Decarbonisation strategy documentation checklist
- Understanding your timelines – template
- Business as usual estimator
- Decarbonisation intervention estimator
- Net Zero organisational assessment
Discover five available tools and accompanying tutorials
AVAILABLE NOW
- Decarbonisation strategy documentation checklist
- Understanding your timelines – template
- Business as usual estimator
- Decarbonisation intervention estimator
- Net Zero organisational assessment
Decarbonisation strategy documentation checklist
A downloadable blank template that gives you all the checkpoints needed for a high quality decarbonisation strategy
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Understanding your timelines - template
A downloadable template that helps you work out your timelines for your decarbonisation programme.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Business as usual estimator
This estimator allows input of building, site or portfolio level energy consumption data. This will provide a baseline of energy use over time from which decarbonisation interventions can be assessed. It also allows for known future changes to the site to be captured and incorporated into the future assessments. This estimator tool comes with a user guide providing instructions for use.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Decarbonisation intervention estimator
This estimator provides a range of key decarbonisation options, including heat, renewables and energy efficiency, which can be applied to your building, site or portfolio. This allows for quick assessment of potential benefits of implementing these interventions. This estimator uses the baseline data from the ‘business as usual’ estimator. This estimator tool comes with a user guide providing instructions for use.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Net Zero organisational assessment
This assessment tool identifies areas for improvement within your organisation’s operational model to unlock and support scaled delivery of decarbonisation.
Download
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Clean Power 2030 Mission
The government has appointed leading industry and academic experts to the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission to help accelerate UK's mission to decarbonise the electricity grid.
Read moreNext Theme: Design and Feasibility
Develop detailed feasibility studies for one, or a suite of, investible decarbonisation measures
Move to Theme 2Want to know more?
Find out more about how Energy Systems Catapult can help you and your teams
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Want to know more?
Find out more about how Energy Systems Catapult can help you and your teams