The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Health and Social Care has awarded Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust £1.2m in funding.
The funding is for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust to switch lights across its hospitals to LED lights.
Already, thousands of lights have been switched to more efficient LED units at North Manchester General, Trafford, and Wythenshawe hospitals as well as their Oxford Road campus in central Manchester.
The move will see the hospitals save an estimated £210,000 every year in electricity costs.
Such a reduction in electricity demand will also mean the hospitals will save around 220 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year
Further, the amount of electricity will reduced by 800, 000 kWh, roughly the equivalent usage of around 300 UK homes.
Such a reduction in electricity demand will also mean the hospitals will save around 220 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, the equivalent amount produced by charging 26m smartphones.
Mark Foden, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s Associate Director of Sustainability, said: “The future of our organisation is a green one, this is another positive step in a series of changes we’re making to become net zero carbon and save on costs and emissions.”
The amount of electricity will reduced by 800, 000 kWh
“Where appropriate, while upgrading to more energy efficient fittings we’ve changed the timers and controls on our lighting and made exterior areas brighter so people feel more secure using our facilities,” Foden added.
“Many internal areas have also been fitted with smart lighting controls that dim and turn off the lighting when it isn’t needed, taking account of natural daylight or occupancy, but react quickly when required,” Foden continued.
Mark Foden and Kathy Cowell OBE DL, Chairman of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, with the old light fittings
Future sustainability initiatives of the Trust
According to Mark Foden, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s Associate Director of Sustainability, the future sustainability plans of the Trust are:
- Changing its procurement process to ensure greener alternatives are used.
- Decarbonising the buildings across the Manchester hospitals the Trust manages by making them more energy efficient.
- Fully electrifying in-house vehicles.
- Working with pharmacy teams to reduce the environmental impact and unnecessary overprescribing.
- Supporting colleagues with green quality improvement projects.
- Encouraging active travel for staff through public transport discounts.
- Support for cyclists with the Trusts’s free bike maintenance sessions and access to bike hubs across its sites.
“On top of all of this, with our lighting changes, we’re making changes for a safer as well as a greener environment,” Foden concluded.