United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is embarking on a trio of major energy-saving projects across its main hospital sites.
The trust has been working with sustainability consultant, ETL, on an Energy Performance Contract (EPC) to procure and appoint an energy supplier and negotiate the best-possible deal.
The organisation is one of the biggest acute hospital trusts in England, serving a local population of 720,000.
And it is already a strong performer on sustainability – having reducing its carbon footprint by 13% between 2009-2015 – against a national average of 10%.
As part of its long-term Sustainable Development Management Plan (SDMP), the trust is working with Veolia to introduce a new Combined Heat and Power (CHP) centre at Lincoln County Hospital, funded by Salix Finance.
These large-scale, high-impact projects will play a critical role if the NHS is to reach its ambition of being a net-zero carbon health service
This will provide more-efficient heating and hot water facilities for its patients and staff at lower cost.
The new energy centre is expected to be operational later this year.
The trust will also be installing energy-efficient LED lighting across its main hospital sites – Lincoln County, Grantham Hospital, and Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.
The LEDs, funded through the NHSI Energy Efficiency Fund, are expected to last longer than conventional lighting, saving up to 70% on costs and creating a better environment for patients and staff.
Finally, the trust intends to utilise Salix Finance to convert the main energy supply at Pilgrim Hospital to gas from heavy fuel oil.
This will ensure there is a reliable, lower-carbon supply of energy to the site, which is currently working on plans to increase services.
Together, the three projects are expected to save the trust more than £1.2m a year.
Claire Hall, associate director of strategic business planning in the trust’s estates and facilities team, said: “Sustainability, energy efficiency and carbon reduction are at the heart of our management policy.
“We have already made great strides in reducing our carbon footprint; and by upgrading and investing in sustainable technologies, it’s our ambition to reduce this by 28% by 2021.”
ETL has been working with United Lincolnshire since 2015 and played a central role in the selection process and eventual appointment of Veolia, supporting the business case for investment, internal trust engagement and agreement of a full managed service agreement (MSA).
Alexandra Hammond, sustainability director at ETL, said: “These large-scale, high-impact projects will play a critical role if the NHS is to reach its ambition of being a net-zero carbon health service.
“This was an indepth piece of work that required detailed understanding of the contractual arrangements and the trust’s approach to contract management.”
