Green measures heal NHS’ energy costs by £300m

The NHS has saved more than £300 million in energy costs as a result of implementing efficiency and sustainable measures. The announcement was made last week as part of the […]

The NHS has saved more than £300 million in energy costs as a result of implementing efficiency and sustainable measures.

The announcement was made last week as part of the NHS Sustainability Day, through which it encourages staff to make green changes. It has also saved more than one million tonnes of carbon.

NHS Trusts and health boards across the UK have adopted energy conservation measures and onsite renewable generation such as combined heat and power (CHP).

That includes York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust installing 1.2MW and 1.3MW CHP engines as well as upgrading their lighting.

They have been procured through the NHS Carbon and Energy Fund and underpinned by energy performance contracts with Vital Energi, which guarantee minimum financial savings and carbon reductions for the duration of the contracts, varying between 15 to 25 years.

Ashley Malin, Project Development Director at Vital Energi said: “The NHS is under a lot of pressure to cut costs but most hospitals need to update their infrastructure and address serious maintenance backlogs.

“The fact that just 14 hospitals can generate over £300 million in savings and one million tonnes of carbon reduction is a great indicator of how much potential there is in the NHS, with regards to revolutionising the way it generates and uses its energy.”

 

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