Capital projects represent a significant financial investment, and can lead to challenges for governing bodies. Governing bodies may already have in place mechanisms to establish and review the extent to which new buildings incorporate environmental issues in their design and operation, but those in England will need to be aware that from 2011 capital funding will depend on institutional performance in reducing carbon emissions.This was confirmed in the 2010/2011 grant letter from Lord Mandelson.
The funding councils are increasingly providing targeted support for energy efficient new projects. For example, the 
SFC has allocated additional funding for energy improvement and carbon reduction measures in 2010-11.
The HEEPI report ‘Building a Sustainable Legacy: The Benefits of High Performance Buildings to Further and Higher Education and How they can be achieved’ shows how high performing buildings can be delivered with little increase either in capital or running costs.