New guidance has been issued to help public service buildings in the United Kingdom lower their environmental impact.

The public sector represents the largest property portfolio in the UK and therefore the Net Zero Estate Playbook, published yesterday by the government, is intended to aid administrators and building managers in improving the energy efficiency of public properties.

Methods such as installing solar panels, making use of LED lighting where possible, and employing greener building materials and practices will all be considered to improve the overall efficiency of public sector establishments.

“The public estate generates 2% of the UK’s total emissions,” said Steve Barclay, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

“So decarbonising public buildings is absolutely crucial if we’re going to meet our environmental targets. Property professionals should use the Playbook to turn best-practice into standard-practice.

“It will put the public estate in a stronger position to deliver a 78% reduction in emissions by 2035, and fully net zero by 2050.”

The guidance is expected to help improve the environmental status of national infrastructure by giving instructions on how to implement and maintain net zero strategies and programmes.

Along with other government initiatives, such as the use of low-emission transport supported by the installation of electric vehicle charging points, public sector buildings will be able to better improve environmental procedures and processes by following the new guidance.

The Net Zero Estate Playbook has been designed to support existing government environmental policies as part of an ongoing effort to push the UK towards net zero emissions by 2050.

The Net Zero Estate Playbook also forms part of the country’s work to honour the new Glasgow Climate Pact, which was agreed upon by 197 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) earlier this month.