With this week's Copenhagen summit focusing the attention of global statesmen on climate change, UK public servants are already feeling the pressure to meet very real targets on sustainability.
As the reality of climate change continues to be felt, these demands will become more exacting, and rightly so.
From April, the Carbon Reduction Commitment will aim for a 60% reduction in emissions from larger organisations by 2050.
And George Osborne's recent announcement on central government emissions, which he hopes to cut by 10% within a year of coming to office, is just one of many of ideas designed to ensure the public sector leads the way in cutting the UK carbon footprint.
But any observer of public sector performance will know that targets, while essential, don't bring about change on their own. Without proper management, the pressure to meet them can lead to short-termism and poor decision making, and without ring-fencing, budget cuts may be diverted to other areas.
Long-term cost savings are easy to achieve
Where CO2 emissions are concerned, long-term cost savings are easy to achieve but often require targeted, carefully planned investment and practical support up front, ensuring the right technology is put in place to guarantee the benefits are felt over many years.
Alastair Keir
Often, a start needs to be made with the basics – better insulation or new heating systems, but again, a proper assessment needs to take place to ensure that the most cost effective solution is identified, and implemented in full.
To its credit, the government has realised this, and has managed public money accordingly.
Across the UK, schools, colleges, local authorities, universities and NHS trusts are taking advantage of interest-free funding that the government has made available through Salix Finance to drive such efficiencies.
Money is only allocated to projects that can meet sensible energy and cost effectiveness criteria in advance – so money is only saved, never wasted. And rigorous monitoring ensures that the focus is kept on ensuring that projects are completed in full and savings are achieved.
Investment in energy efficiency projects, properly implemented, really will reap a long-term financial dividend. The £175m total funding that is being allocated for energy saving projects managed by Salix Finance will achieve £600m lifetime cost savings and 3.5m tonnes of carbon savings. Already, 488 public sector bodies are benefitting.
Future savings on these, and potentially greater, levels would be put at risk if up-front investment in the projects that will deliver them were to be cut.
Better insulation, new boilers or lighting may not make headlines, but continuing investment in these unglamorous projects will help any government ensure that when future targets are set, real delivery follows.
•The current deadline for loan funding applications is 31 December 2009
Alastair Keir is chief executive of Salix Finance, an independent company which provides interest free loans to help public sector organisations to cut their energy bills
