By: Nick Maggs, Managing Director – Hard Services, OCS UK
Across the UK, organisations are facing a growing set of challenges when it comes to their sustainability and ESG commitments and also reducing their energy costs. From strategies designed to achieve net zero through to Scope 1 and 2 emissions reporting, the demand for meaningful climate action is rising. Compounding the issue, is the problem that introducing new decarbonising infrastructure, such as heat pumps, to replace gas boilers, can actually increase the overall energy cost!
For public and private sector leaders alike, navigating this landscape can be a challenge, particularly when it’s paired with budget pressures, ageing infrastructure, and increasingly complicated regulatory frameworks. As a result, many are now looking at reducing their energy bill and decarbonisation as not just a standalone initiative, but as an integrated component of how they run their facilities and services. Facilities management is powerful lever in this process, offering a route to achieving sustainability targets while delivering tangible business benefits. This is where Energy and decarbonisations as a service comes into play.
Why energy strategies matter now more than ever
Energy use accounts for a significant share of an organisation’s carbon footprint, especially in sectors like healthcare, education, and manufacturing. For public sector organisations in particular, the push to reduce emissions is driven by government targets to achieve carbon net zero by 2050.
However, this can be incredibly challenging for a variety of reasons. Older buildings and infrastructure, inconsistent data, and limited in-house expertise can make it difficult to identify where to start. And at the same time, the upfront cost of making improvements can be a major barrier. Without a clear strategy to oversee improvements, decarbonisation efforts risk becoming fragmented and reactive. This is where a structured, service-led approach to energy and decarbonisation comes in.
The role of audits in unlocking action
Often overlooked, one of the most important steps in decarbonisation is energy audits. A comprehensive audit can lay the foundations to achieve long-term change as it can identify how energy is currently used across a site or estate, where the biggest inefficiencies lie, and what interventions would have the greatest impact.
For facilities management organisations, this insight is critical as it facilitates a move away from a one-size-fits-all approach, and instead drives actions based on actual data. This could mean simple optimisations to reduce demand, retrofitting existing systems, or planning a phased transition to greener technologies. Done correctly, energy audits can become more than a tick box exercise, they can be the driver for change and in a time where budgets are under heightened scrutiny, this level of clarity is invaluable.
Grant funding can be a critical enabler
For many organisations, a barrier they often face is funding. While energy savings may eventually offset the cost of upgrades, the initial investment required can be significant. This is particularly true for large estates, such as hospitals or university campuses, where the scale of the challenge can be significant.
However, several funding schemes exist to support these efforts. Programmes like SALIX and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) have offered grants for energy-efficiency and low-carbon projects. The expectation is the GB Energy will now provide this, along with numerous other grant schemes. Successful recipients of these grants can unlock significant resources to kick-start or accelerate their decarbonisation plans.
Beyond compliance
Far too often, sustainability is framed in terms of obligations such as meeting emissions targets or responding to legislative changes. Decarbonisation can deliver far wider benefits, both financially and operationally. Energy efficiency, for example, doesn’t just reduce carbon; it lowers operating costs, while renewable energy sources can help organisations protect themselves against volatility in global energy markets. Upgrading infrastructure can unlock reduced maintenance needs while enhancing system reliability, benefitting those who experience the building day to day. Decarbonisation should be seen not just as a sustainability goal, but as a core part of facilities management and service planning.
The role of FM in driving change
Facilities management teams are strategically placed to lead on energy efficiency and decarbonisation initiatives. FM teams have access to the data, systems, and day-to-day operations that shape an organisation’s energy usage. Additionally, they are tasked with managing and delivering change in live environments – such as a busy hospital or logistics warehouse.
By integrating decarbonisation into their broader FM strategy, organisations can take a more aligned approach to energy use, efficiency, and infrastructure planning. This means making sustainability part of regular operations, not just a one-off project or annual reporting exercises, and by doing so, organisations will be able to plan for the long term, ensuring that all sustainability initiatives align with their broader strategy and budget.
Making progress achievable
One of the biggest challenges with decarbonisation is simply knowing where to start. For organisations with multiple sites, different building types, and varying levels of energy efficiency across the estate, the journey to decarbonisation can quickly become complex.
Progress doesn’t have to be all or nothing. With the right approach, organisations can take manageable and staged steps – beginning with audits, identifying funding opportunities, implementing priority upgrades, and building towards larger infrastructure changes. It’s vital to create a clear and realistic plan, supported by comprehensive data and expert guidance.
At a time when sustainability, cost pressures and maintaining operational efficiency are increasingly intertwined, energy and decarbonisation as a service offers a practical route forward. It helps organisations move from ambition to action, and to do so in a way that delivers actual and long-lasting value.
For more information please visit: https://ocs.com/uk/
