From Intent to Impact: Why Public Sector Decarbonisation Starts With a Roadmap

Insights

From Intent to Impact: Why Public Sector Decarbonisation Starts With a Roadmap

How HI Group is helping estates turn Net Zero ambition into funded, low-risk delivery

You’ve committed to Net Zero. But how do you actually deliver it?

With the UK Government pledging over £9 billion per year to modernise public infrastructure, the public sector has never had more support – or more pressure – to act on sustainability.

But for stretched estates teams and sustainability leads, funding is only half the story. From outdated infrastructure to complicated procurement, many organisations remain stuck at the starting line.

That’s where HI Group’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Roadmap comes in. Built specifically for the realities of complex estates, it breaks down the path to Net Zero into manageable, fundable steps – with delivery and performance built in from day one.

“This roadmap shows how we make decarbonisation not just possible, but manageable.”

Why good intentions still stall

Even when the motivation is there, delivery often falters. Across schools, hospitals, councils and care environments, we see the same blockers time and again:

Funding complexity — Many don’t realise compliant designs are needed before applying.
Procurement inertia — Legacy frameworks aren’t built for flexible, modern energy services.
Stakeholder resistance — Leaders want certainty and a clear business case.
Disruption fears — Live environments make estates understandably cautious.
Capacity constraints — Decarbonisation feels like a full-time job. Most teams already have one.

It’s no surprise that ambition doesn’t always lead to action. What’s needed isn’t more strategy, it’s a practical delivery plan.

The 5-Phase Roadmap: A Clear Path from Start to Success

The HI Group Decarbonisation Roadmap is a step-by-step framework designed for public sector complexity. It’s aligned with RIBA stages, rooted in real-world delivery, and flexible enough to start wherever you are.

1. Discovery Plan: Define Your Net Zero Action Plan

Start with clarity:

Set energy and carbon baselines
Map high-impact areas
Align internal stakeholders
Build a lightweight plan to support funding bids

2. Feasibility & Strategy: Test and Validate

Conduct detailed surveys and operational reviews
Explore decarbonisation scenarios and model savings
Evaluate CAPEX, OPEX and ROI
Scope 1, 2 (and optionally Scope 3) emissions covered

3. Design & Finance Readiness: Build a Fundable Case

Technical design and lifecycle costing
Funding model development (grants, private finance, hybrids)
Full support with compliant applications

4. Delivery & Quality Assurance: Install With Confidence

Procure partners and equipment
Manage construction in live settings
Commission systems and complete testing
HI Group stays hands-on throughout — no handoffs, no surprises

5. Performance & Optimisation: Prove and Improve

MRV reporting via HI Group’s HIPA Portal
Seasonal system tuning and maintenance
Unlock energy flexibility and new revenue with GridBeyond

Proof in Practice: When the Roadmap Delivers

Gloucestershire College

Faced with rising energy bills and ageing systems, Gloucestershire College worked with HI Group to build a staged, fundable transformation plan. The results:

£2.8 million in public funding secured (58% of project costs)
63% CO₂ emissions reduction in the first year
Upgrades included heat pumps, solar PV and smart controls

“This isn’t just about decarbonising: it’s about proving a model that works for the sector.”

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Working with GridBeyond, the Trust connected 5MW of onsite generation to the National Grid’s Capacity Market – turning energy into a revenue stream without disrupting clinical services.

Fully monitored and optimised via GridBeyond’s smart platform
Revenue from flexibility schemes
Enhanced resilience and efficiency across hospital sitesDecarbonisation Roadmap…

From Cost Centre to Revenue Generator

Too often, energy is seen purely as an operational cost. But with the right strategy, it can become an income source.

HI Group and GridBeyond help public estates earn from energy through Demand Side Response (DSR): getting paid to shift or reduce usage at key times. It’s fast, non-disruptive, and fundable.

Lower energy bills
New revenue
Less pressure on
infrastructure
Support grid resilience

You don’t need a “smart building.” You need a smart plan. And with the roadmap, that’s exactly what you get.

Ready to Start?

If your organisation has a Net Zero goal but no delivery plan, now’s the time to act. HI Group’s team is ready to help you build the business case, secure funding and prove impact every step of the way.

Download the Public Sector Decarbonisation Roadmap
Book an energy performance workshop: hello@higroupltd.co.uk