Scheme acronyms
- PSDS - Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. The Salix-administered, DESNZ-funded capital grant.
- Salix - Salix Finance. Non-departmental public body that runs the PSDS portal [Salix].
- DESNZ - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Sets PSDS policy and budget [DESNZ].
- DfE - Department for Education. Owns CIF, R&R, School Rebuilding Programme.
- HMT - HM Treasury. Sets Spending Review envelope.
Measurement acronyms
- GCC - Grant Carbon Cost. kgCO2e displaced per £ of grant.
- £/tCO2e - Grant £ per lifetime tonne of CO2e displaced. The £325 ceiling.
- kgCO2e - Kilograms of CO2-equivalent emissions.
- SCOP - Seasonal Coefficient of Performance for a heat pump.
- GIFA - Gross Internal Floor Area, the m² measure for school buildings.
Estate and rating
- EPC - Energy Performance Certificate. Modelled energy efficiency rating.
- DEC - Display Energy Certificate. Required for most public buildings [DESNZ].
- SAP - Standard Assessment Procedure. Energy rating methodology.
- SPV - Special Purpose Vehicle. The PFI contracting entity.
- PFI - Private Finance Initiative. Public buildings under long-term private contract.
Funding and procurement
- LCSF - Low Carbon Skills Fund. Closed; previously funded feasibility studies.
- CIF - Condition Improvement Fund. DfE annual academy fund.
- R&R - Renewal & Retrofit. DfE £710m programme announced April 2026.
- SRP - School Rebuilding Programme.
- ESCO - Energy Services Company. Guaranteed-savings counterparty.
- PPA - Power Purchase Agreement. Third-party-owned renewable supply.
- Re:Fit - LGA framework for ESCO-led works.
- CCS - Crown Commercial Service. Operator of public-procurement frameworks (RM6238).
Technical
- ASHP - Air-Source Heat Pump.
- GSHP - Ground-Source Heat Pump.
- BMS - Building Management System.
- EWI - External Wall Insulation.
- PV - Photovoltaic (solar).
- Fabric-first - The hierarchy of reducing demand before generating or replacing heat source.