Improving the energy performance of the public estate is not just an environmental ambition, it's a financial necessity. With rising energy costs and ageing buildings, councils need reliable ways to reduce running costs and modernise assets.
The RE:FIT 5 National Carbon and Energy Performance Contracting Framework provides a route to deliver energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects with guaranteed performance outcomes.
Since 2016, Local Partnerships has helped authorities to save 654,700 tonnes of CO2 and more than £34m on energy annually.
One of those authorities is Powys Teaching Health Board. In 2019, the Welsh Government declared an ambition for the public sector to reach net zero by 2030. Powys – a large, sparsely populated county – had lots of ageing buildings, but lacked funds to refurbish. Delivering a decarbonisation programme would require a flexible and commercially viable approach.
That's where RE:FIT came in. The Welsh Government Energy Service recommended that Powys speak to Local Partnerships. Teams worked together to identify priorities, align objectives and secure funding, accelerating project development and organisational buy-in.
Local Partnerships supported the health board throughout, including producing an invitation to tender. Following a robust procurement process, Vital Energi was appointed. They then worked with Powys and Local Partnerships to produce a business case with guaranteed levels of performance and savings.
With funding from Salix Finance, work began on installing solar panels and LED lighting, and improving insulation and pipework. Community hospitals and clinical centres across Powys are now using energy more efficiently, with better lighting and improved infrastructure.
The partnership delivered tangible benefits for local people, alongside financial and carbon emissions savings.
If you are a public sector body outside Greater London and you're interested in doing the same, talk to Local Partnerships about RE:FIT 5 or visit localpartnerships.gov.uk/refit.
Huw Russell is a director at Local Partnerships who has supported a number of public sector organisations through the RE:FIT process
