Funds for public buildings to switch to cleaner heating

Public buildings and businesses will be supported to make energy efficient upgrades, and those with high energy use will receive funding to help cut bills and emissions.

The government has announced that schools, pools, and hospitals will benefit from £557 million to help reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions.

The new projects will help reduce emissions and cut bills, as part of the government’s plan to reach its world-leading net zero targets in a sustainable, pragmatic way.

Heat pumps, solar panels, insulation and low-energy lighting will be rolled out to reduce the use of fossil fuels across the public sector and strengthen the UK’s energy independence.

Lord Callahan, minister for energy efficiency and green finance, said: "From school corridors to the businesses that power up our economy, we want to make sure buildings of all shapes and sizes are supported to deliver net zero.

"We are standing steadfast behind our public sector and local businesses, providing the help they need to make the switch to cleaner, homegrown energy.

"This will not only help cut bills in the long term, but ensure we keep reducing our emissions – having already led the world by halving them since 1990."

Over 1,000 projects have now received funding since 2020 to upgrade thousands of buildings through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. 

New projects receiving funding in this phase include Loughborough University which has been awarded over £2 million to decarbonise their Olympic size swimming pool by replacing old gas-fired boilers with more efficient, cleaner heat pumps.

Surrey County Council has also been awarded over £5 million to cut emissions across 19 sites including six libraries, four nursing homes, two community centres, Guildford Fire Station, five schools and the council’s own headquarters in Reigate.