Schools, hospitals, council offices and even police stations are being offered an energy grant to buy renewable energy products made by Stiebel Eltron and others from the industry.
For the first time, funding for products made by the heat pump manufacturer Stiebel Eltron can be claimed by the public sector under the new government grant scheme the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) Phase II.

The scheme means organisations can apply for up to 50% of the cost of installing approved green energy technologies up to a maximum of £200,000.

Following the Budget announcement on April 22, an additional £45 million has been allocated to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP). LCBP Phase Two will receive an additional £35 million of funding.

This sees the current programme extend from July 1, 2009 until April 2011 to support technologies until the introduction of feed-in tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive. Some £5 million of the £45 million has already been allocated to solar PV funding under Phase Two.

From July 1, 2009, the programme will be open to all products and installer companies registered on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

A full list of these can be found here

The public sector is already struggling to meet its target of cutting CO2 emissions by 30% from its buildings by 2020. The Houses of Parliament and the Bank of England together consumed enough electricity and gas to emit 21,356 tonnes of CO2 a year - the equivalent of more than 14,000 people flying from London to New York.

Stiebel Eltron UK managing director Mark McManus said: 'This is a grave and serious problem. Bluntly many public buildings are the equivalent of gas guzzling cars their energy efficiency is so poor.'

Stiebel Eltron offers to carry out a free energy efficiency report of any public building. It can then list recommendations on how to cut carbon emissions and energy costs. The company also advises customers on how bodies can apply for the LCBP phase II to meet the cost.