WASTE MANAGEMENT
A Vall appointed to new post to
make hospitals greener
n expert has been appointed to a new post to help
Colchester General Hospital and Essex County Hospital to become greener and more sustainable.
Dr Vall Rasaratnam has become the first energy and sustainability manager at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust after holding similar roles in the further education sector.
He aims to help the trust achieve a transformation in energy consumption, waste disposal, water usage, green travel and sustainable procurement and for it to take part in projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions in order to make the organisation greener and more sustainable.
Dr Rasaratnam has already agreed to sign up the trust for the 10:10 campaign which involves making a pledge before the end of the year to reduce carbon emissions by 10 per cent in the following 12 months.
In addition, in December the trust will join the NHS Carbon Management Programme which provides healthcare organisations with support and guidance to help them reduce their carbon emissions.
Dr Rasaratnam hopes his appointment will give the trust fresh impetus to continue reducing emissions and energy costs, which would allow more resources to be directed to healthcare.
“The trust has already started to take steps towards achieving
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The trust, which employs 3,500 staff, currently produces approximately 10,000 tonnes of carbon a year. Last year, it spent just over £2m on utilities and waste management.
It has already registered for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly known as the Carbon Reduction Commitment), the UK’s mandatory climate change and energy saving scheme which from 2011/12 will reward financially organisations which reduce their carbon emissions - and penalise those financially that do not.
In 2008, the trust completed a £1.6m project to convert the main steam boilers at Colchester General Hospital from heavy fuel oil to natural gas, resulting in annual revenue savings of about £200,000, annual energy savings of almost 9,200 GigaJoules and carbon dioxide savings of more than 1,500 tonnes.
greater sustainability, and my main priority is to work with all staff to increase this activity,” he said.
“Part of my job will be to change the culture, so that more people take simple measures, such as switching off unnecessary lighting, turning down thermostats and wearing more clothing in winter and not leaving mobile phone chargers switched on.
“These will make a significant contribution to cutting carbon emissions, and I will also lead on technical initiatives designed to reduce energy use, emissions and waste.”
Dr Rasaratnam, who has a PhD in environmental engineering, said he planned to send an energy questionnaire to staff in order to raise awareness of the issues.
His immediate plans include reviewing the trust’s waste management strategy and providing more recycling facilities so that it is easier for staff, patients and visitors to recycle materials such as plastic, glass, paper and cardboard.
Dr Rasaratnam said: “Our ability to manage and control our waste production in a sustainable manner is inextricably linked to our ability to manage all our resources efficiently.”
The trust is also replacing older light fittings with energy efficient ones. through a phased programme.
Its sustainable transport and travel plan already encourages staff, patients and visitors to minimise their impact on the environment by considering alternatives to the car. For example, bus travel for staff is subsidised and they are provided with a free bus services between the two hospitals.
One of Dr Rasaratnam’s tasks will be to review the plan in order to see what more can be done.
Sep/Oct 10
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