PUBLIC SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY
AVOIDING HIDDEN COSTS W IN THE NHS
For hospitals, the need to cut carbon is intensifying, but the margin for error is narrowing. Aidan Salter outlines potential problem areas in low-carbon refurbishment and identifies legislative changes of which to be aware.
Trusts to be accountable in their energy use and lead the way in environmental responsibility. The Government’s White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS specifically identified improved energy efficiency and increased sustainability as vital reactions to the ‘doing more with less’ mindset of the downturn.
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However, carbon reduction projects can be riddled with unforeseen risks, leading to spiralling costs. Any project that
trict targets and tightening legislation have put carbon reduction high on the agenda for every healthcare estate. Pressure is mounting on NHS
alters the fabric of a building risks disruption to both staff members and service users. And uncovering hidden issues like asbestos can add thousands of pounds to a simple refurbishment project. Estates managers must walk a tightrope, balancing the financial savings that are available from lower energy consumption with the cost of undertaking works to improve energy efficiency. How is it possible, therefore, to achieve carbon reduction without encountering hidden costs?
FINDING VALUE FOR MONEY Though on-site generation of renewable energy is rising in popularity,
for a majority of estates, the most cost- effective carbon reduction strategies typically take a less glamorous form. Most buildings still leak more energy, through inefficient equipment and poorly-insulated fabric, than could ever be generated by solar photovoltaics or wind turbines. In an uncertain market, the ‘low hanging fruit’ of energy efficiency still provide the greatest return on investment. Key advice body, The Carbon Trust, typically recommends implementing measures that work to make what is already in place more efficient. These include: insulation, energy-efficient lighting; boiler controls; heating and power optimisation; and better staff energy practices.
Case Study: Royal Surrey County Hospital T
he Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford treats over 260,000 patients a year in its 20-ward main
building. The hospital includes one of only three specialised training units for keyhole surgery in the UK and provides essential treatment and cancer care for the area. Gary Mountjoy, Estates Manager at the hospital, is forever searching for ways to control costs throughout the site. “This
hospital is run on behalf of its local community, therefore it is our responsibility to make sure that it is run in the most cost-efficient way and that its
environmental impact on the community is minimal,” he says.
Electricity and, more specifically, lighting costs are a huge outlay for the hospital but it is difficult to find ways to cut those costs without major capital outlay on purchase and installation of new equipment. When a solution in the form of an energy-saving retrofit option, ‘Save It Easy®’, which allowed low-energy lamps to be simply slotted into the existing fittings, Mr Mountjoy felt compelled to trial it.
The area chosen for the trial was one of intense utilisation – typically lit 24 hours a day throughout the year. A 980-lamp installation was undertaken within common areas, such as waiting rooms and corridors. When energy savings of
38 PUBLIC SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY • VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5
137,356 kWh per annum were demonstrated, it proved possible to secure an additional budget for a complete site roll-out. A further 10,536 Save it Easy converters were installed, with little disruption to the daily workings of the hospital. The energy-efficient lighting has meant that the Royal Surrey has cut its annual electricity costs by over £50,000 per year, with a carbon saving of around 550 tonnes a year. The project achieved payback in just over two years. In light of the huge energy savings that he helped to create, Mr Mountjoy received the Low Carbon Award at the NHS Best of Health Awards. The award recognises commitment to achieving reductions in carbon emissions in respect of the operations of health and social care. As a result of the award win and general success of the Save It Easy project, many other NHS bodies have approached Mr Mountjoy to discuss the lighting project, with a view to adopting a similar approach to energy efficiency.
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