ESTATE TRANSFORMATION
leaving in the existing low-level insulation, but adding additional insulation between the trusses, which will increase the roof height. The enhanced thermal efficiency should help reduce our boiler use, and thus cut our gas consumption.”
Electricity vs gas Rob Few explained that the various decarbonisation initiatives should bring the Trust around £100,000 annually in guaranteed savings. He added: “However, to use the heat pump, and implement the changeover to electricity in the HSDU, we will increase our utility costs, since electricity costs more to buy than gas. The Trust Board was made aware of this early on – that to be sustainable, some of your running costs will rise.” The Trust already purchases 100% of its energy from renewable sources, he added. In all, it expects to reduce its carbon emissions by around 712 tonnes CO2 15,000 tCO2
e annually, and by e overall by 2040.”
EPC updated Rob Few explained that – via the Carbon & Energy Fund (CEF) – the Trust has an Energy Performance Contract (EPC) with Centrica. He said: “We have recently updated our EPC by way of a re-statement and amendment to the Trust’s existing EPC. In 2029, the existing contract will end, and a new one will then run until 2039. That is fantastic news, because it means that over the next few years we can work with Centrica and the CEF on new, innovative technology to make sure we hit the 2040 NHS Net Zero carbon target.” He continued: “The EPC commenced in
2014, and Centrica is responsible for the full maintenance of the CHP. On a normal day here at Macclesfield District General Hospital, with the 300 kW from the new heat pump, and the 600 kW generated from the CHP, our boilers shouldn’t need to be on, apart from at peak demand times. One upshot however, is that we are increasing the electrical demand coming onto the site. “The Trust thus needs to ensure that it has the right provision in place to make these changes.” Accordingly, Rob Few explained, the Estates & Facilities team has been working with the DNO, Electricity North West. He said: “To decarbonise and move to electricity your cables need to be bigger. If we do need to upgrade our cabling, it could cost around £1.5 m, which means being very careful about managing and monitoring our electrical capacity on site, via our upgraded BACnet-based BMS. As part of the BMS upgrade, we will be enhancing our remote monitoring capabilities, and linking in some of our other systems, such as generators and associated critical alarms.”
New sub-station I wondered about any particular infrastructure challenges of installing
the air source heat pump. Rob Few said: “It has its own HV supply, which has meant installing a new sub-station for the Energy Centre, and there are also additional monitoring and controls aspects. The pipework involved should not be underestimated either; it will run for about 200 metres from the Energy Centre to the existing boilers, and isn’t a straight run – it goes on top of roofs, and through different plantrooms, and will need to be appropriately lagged and insulated.” The pipework from the heat pump will
connect to the existing boiler header. Rob Few explained: “The electricity produced will generate the heat through the heat exchangers, over which the water will pass and go to the boilers. This means the boilers don’t have to work nearly as hard, and you’re not using gas, apart from during peak demand. We will be working continuously with the CEF and Centrica over the next 17 years to ensure that our carbon and energy consumption continues on a downward trajectory.”
Guaranteed savings Rob Few emphasised that the CHP EPC guarantees savings, requiring Centrica to ensure that the recently upgraded CHP runs as efficiently as possible, with any savings shared between the Trust and the company. He said: “All of what we have discussed falls under our new Estate Strategy, which started in 2022. In all the total investment at our three hospital sites in the 12 months from late 2022 to late 2023 will be around £25 m.” My interviewee explained that out of the £8.6 m total made up of £7.1 m in Public Sector Decarbonisation via Salix, and the Trust’s £1.5 m contribution, the Estates & Facilities team intends allocating around £1.5 m for re-roofing four of the wards at Macclesfield District General Hospital. He said: “We will be creating warm roofs by
He said: “As you can see, we have
a large number of projects – both construction and/ building fabric-related, and decarbonisation-focused – ongoing here after a somewhat fallow period. As the person heading up the Estates & Facilities team, there are so many different elements to think about – from appropriate ventilation air change rates to sustainability, optimal use of clinical and non-clinical space, and patient and staff wellbeing. With our latest Estate Strategy and decarbonisation work we are bringing all of this together, and are implementing our plans, because we’ve got this additional funding – which is fantastic.” Rob Few explained that the £6 m cost of the new Elective Treatment Centre and Emergency Department upgrade is being funded via the Government’s Targeted Investment Fund (or ‘TIF’) – announced in the 2021 Autumn Spending Review. He added: “The funding for the new MRI and Endoscopy Department project is from the local ICS, while the £1.6 m investment in our new Education Centre is charity-funded.” He said of the various projects: “This is certainly the largest overall investment we have seen in our estate for a decade. With a relatively small Estates & Facilities team, however, the team is determined to deliver on all capital projects. It is very much-needed, and every staff member has fully bought into the overall ambition of making the environment better for patients and staff. It’s been a fantastic journey.”
Backlog maintenance From the Trust’s backlog maintenance surveys, it had become clear that parts of the hospital were in need of investment. Rob Few said: “We are gradually tackling our current £20 m in backlog, and probably offsetting that figure by about £4 m through the funding and all the work
June 2023 Health Estate Journal 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
