Welcome to ‘Sustainability in focus’ — CIPFA’s online repository of environmental sustainability case studies within the public sector including local authorities, police and fire services and the NHS.
Driving the sustainability agenda within the public sector is vital to meet the UK’s ambition towards a net zero economy by 2050. Local authorities and other public sector organisations such as the NHS, police and fire services play a vital role in the UK’s journey towards net zero and reducing their carbon emissions as they operate close to their communities. Through tangible decarbonisation measures such as improved urban planning and development, transport management, energy and waste management, strengthening policy and regulation and educating communities, these organisations can contribute to reducing the UK’s overall carbon emissions and raise sustainability awareness within the local communities. This case studies hub supports these organisations to achieve this goal.
The case studies are arranged under four different themes: green technologies and cloud utilisation, decarbonisation of housing and building stock, business cases, green skills and capacity development. Further details about each case study can be found by clicking the individual themes. Each case study represents a unique ‘challenge’ that the organisation faced, the ‘action’ they took to overcome this challenge, the ‘outcome’ of the actions achieved and a ‘reflection’ on the lessons learnt from the project. The case study hub serves as a resource of good practice and innovative projects within public sector sustainability which other public sector organisations can refer to in order to draw upon the experiences of their peers.
The case study hub is a live resource which will be updated regularly with innovative project examples across the public sector sustainability. If you would like to contribute a sustainability project case study for addition to this resource, please contact Amit Verma, Sustainability Policy Manager, CIPFA Amit.Verma@cipfa.org.
Decarbonisation of housing and building stock
Decarbonisation of housing and buildings within public sector organisations are a huge contributor towards the national and international goals for the UK’s overall carbon emissions reduction in its journey towards net zero. Public sector organisations, including local authorities, account for a significant share of overall national greenhouse gas emissions and, through positive interventions within planning, policy and regulations, infrastructure development and community behaviour, tangible progress within carbon emissions reduction can be achieved.
The case studies under this theme explore how different public sector organisations, including local authorities, are progressing their sustainability agenda through the decarbonisation of housing and buildings. By highlighting their experiences of working on buildings decarbonisation projects, they serve as a guide for other public sector organisations looking to undertake similar sustainability development projects within their jurisdictions.
Case studies
South Gloucestershire Council’s Investing in Climate and Nature Scheme (ICaN)
The South Gloucestershire Investing in Climate and Nature (ICaN) scheme delivers a portfolio of investment ready projects which support nature recovery, climate adaptation, and social value improvements across public open spaces.
These projects are designed to enhance natural capital by increasing the potential of these spaces so that they work better for nature and deliver increased ecosystem services such as flood and drought resilience, air quality improvement, temperature moderation and carbon sequestration. They are also designed to ensure that local communities have better access to high functioning green spaces and associated health, wellbeing and social value benefits.
North Yorkshire Council Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2)
North Yorkshire Council secured £14.5 million in funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to deliver the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2) scheme. The HUG2 scheme is designed to support energy efficiency upgrades in low-income, off-gas grid homes, thus reducing household energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, improve home energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty.
This investment enabled North Yorkshire council to promote a range of measures — including insulation, low-carbon heating systems and renewable technologies such as solar PV. The funding formed part of the UK government’s broader strategy to support net zero goals while enhancing the resilience of vulnerable households in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
However, due to several project challenges including DEZNZ’s tight timeframes for project delivery, procurement and legal challenges, a revised allocation of approx. £6 million, was awarded to North Yorkshire Council to treat 250 homes.
Read the North Yorkshire case study