An aerial view of Westminster an WhitehallImage source, Getty Images

Government figures show that the cost of decarbonising UK public sector buildings is between £25 and 30 billion.

The amount was disclosed after a Freedom of Information request was made.

The indicative figure is based on current prices and should not be seen as the actual budget needed to move to low carbon heating.

It is possible for the UK to meet its goal of net zero CO2 emissions by the year 2050.

The government wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public buildings by 75% by the year 2037.

Older properties will need to have the latest equipment retrofitted if they want to have low carbon heating systems.

According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the estimated figure forUpgrading public sector buildings was based on current "undiscounted 2022 prices" and that it was being used within government to inform decisions around transitioning to alternative sources of heating.

The suggested cost should not be seen as the actual price of converting public buildings to low carbon.

The estimate is based on the cost of converting or retrofitting the entire public sector estate in the UK today.

Over time, the cost would be spread.

Changing lighting to LEDs and investing in solar panels would offset the setup costs for a more carbon neutral building.

The director of the Centre for Business, Climate Change, andSustainability at the University of Edinburgh looked over the government's estimates.

She said that responding to the impacts of climate change in the UK would be expensive.

It is estimated that it will cost the UK economy 3% of GDP by the year 2050.

Investments through the conversion of public sector buildings will pay off in the long run. The UK will be able to meet our emissions targets.

Solar panels fitted to the roof of the Carlton Court hospital in Lowestoft, SuffolkImage source, Getty Images
Image caption, Solar panels were fitted to the roof of the Carlton Court hospital in Lowestoft, Suffolk

There are 28.6 million homes in the UK and 1.9 million other buildings according to the Climate Change Committee.

The majority of homes and buildings are heated by gas boilers.

The committee says that 20% of UK emissions come from buildings.

The total cost of decarbonising residential properties would require an investment of £250 billion over the course of the next 40 years.

The amount of money being spent on low carbon projects is insufficient.

He said that a larger, multi-year funding settlement is needed to provide certainty and achieve the decarbonisation target.

Government funds can be used to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings.

According to the company which administers the grants, more than $1 billion has been spent on almost 20,000 projects.

The Local Government Association wants the government to help local authorities in England speed up investment in low-carbon technologies because it says doing so will save the public sector money and reduce emissions.

Making public buildings more energy efficient would allow local businesses and supply chains to make it easier and cheaper for home owners to retrofit their own homes.

The benefits of decarbonisation can be seen in energy bills and maintenance costs, according to the Carbon Trust.

"Many public sector buildings will need to replace equipment by 2050, so some of the investment required should be part of business-as- usual spending," she said.

Decarbonising public buildings is a no-regrets investment for the government.

Schools, hospitals, and public offices are spending money on heat leaking from poorly insulated roofs and walls.

At a time when public finances are stretched, it's more important to invest wisely in those opportunities that can reduce public spending over time.

In the last 12 years we have halved emissions from the central government estate and invested in supporting those running our public buildings such as schools and hospitals.

It's on top of our efforts to increase our use of home-grown energy, increase our energy security, and meet our net zero ambitions.

Rob Corp reports additional information.

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