CARBON AND ENERGY REDUCTION
Among the current barriers to decarbonising the NHS are: 1 It requires significant investment in new infrastructure, equipment, and technology. This can be a major barrier, especially for cash-strapped NHS Trusts that may be operating on tight budgets.
heat pump design suitable for continuous operation at higher heating capacities in large buildings. Left: The Acer Heat Pump is available in two models – ‘low noise’ and ‘ultra-low noise’ – and, Clade Engineering says, ‘is as close to plug-and- play as a commercial heat pump can get’.
Above: The Oak Heat Pump is a mid- range CO2
disasters. The UK relies on imports of natural gas to meet its energy needs, and this reliance on imports is avoidable. By decarbonising and transitioning to renewable energy sources, the NHS can reduce its dependence on imported energy and improve its energy security.
6 The UK Government has set ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of zero carbon energy. The NHS has a responsibility to contribute more to these targets, and to help the UK meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement on climate change. Alternative energy sources will enable the NHS to reduce its carbon emissions to meet its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions considerably by 2030.
7 Healthcare providers that use cleaner energy can show compliance with these regulations, and avoid potential penalties for non-compliance.
8 There is a definite added benefit for healthcare that benefits both employees and patients. Healthcare improvements such as the adoption of energy- efficient lighting contribute to a greener workplace.
How is the NHS currently contributing to decarbonising the UK economy? As the UK’s largest employer, the NHS has a duty to reduce its carbon footprint. Given the size of the healthcare sector, which accounts for an estimated 4% of England’s carbon emissions, its decarbonisation will significantly help to reduce the nation’s total emissions. In addition, over half of all NHS buildings are heated by grid-connected gas boilers. This produces a substantial amount of CO2
/m2 /year that can be tackled with alternative renewable energy sources.
What is the NHS decarbonisation strategy? Over 65% of London NHS Trusts now offer cycle-to-work programmes to their
staff members, demonstrating their commitment to greener transport. Nurses from Guy’s and St. Thomas’ are also testing electric bikes to visit patients in the neighbourhood as part of a project to lessen pollution and enhance staff health and wellness. The good news is that there are many ways for hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the country to contribute towards decarbonising our economy. The cleanest, forward-thinking move is switching from grid-connected heating systems towards renewable sources, such as geothermal heat pumps or biomass boilers, and Trusts and hospitals are picking up the gauntlet with more NHS buildings having already switched to renewable heating systems. University College London Hospitals (UCLH) strives to decarbonise, and is making waves in the efforts for a lower carbon usage NHS. Its efforts show why renewable energy will continue to decarbonise the NHS. At UCLH, the staff have actively moved
to greener sources, and achieved a 90% reduction in using desflurane gas. The move to more usage of intravenous anaesthetics and sevoflurane, a cleaner anaesthetic gas, pushed the huge reduction forward. In addition, efforts to cut down on CO2
usage by using low-
energy LED lights in hospitals will bring UCLH closer to Net Zero targets. The £2 m
investment in LED lights reduces CO2 consumption by up to 1,200 tonnes every year.
What are the key barriers to decarbonising the NHS? Overall, decarbonising the NHS is a complex and challenging task that requires significant investment, expertise, and cooperation across the sector. While there are significant barriers to decarbonisation, the significant benefits are 100% clear in terms of reducing carbon emissions. All NHS institutions must overcome these barriers to support a long-term carbon budget.
2 It also requires significant changes to the way energy is generated and used within the NHS, which can be technically complex. This can require specialised expertise, and may involve significant retrofitting of existing infrastructure, which can be disruptive and time- consuming. Infrastructure limitations where NHS buildings were not designed with decarbonisation in mind can make it difficult to retrofit them with new equipment and technology.
3 It needs NHS staff to think differently about how they use energy, which can be challenging to achieve. It may require changes to working practices, routines, and habits, as well as education and training to help staff understand the benefits of decarbonisation and how to implement it effectively.
4 It is likely to encounter a lack of awareness and engagement. Some NHS staff may not be aware of the benefits of decarbonisation, or how it can be implemented within their organisations. Engaging staff and stakeholders in the decarbonisation process is important to generate support and ensure the success of decarbonisation initiatives.
How commercial heat pumps will help the NHS hit carbon emission targets There’s literally no time like the present when it comes to seeking all possible ways to cut carbon emissions. The NHS has taken steps towards decarbonisation through its use of waste heat recovery technology. One way for a large organisation such as an NHS Trust to switch to a more reliable and resilient energy source, cutting carbon footprint in the process, is to install a heat pump.
How heat pumps work Heat pumps operate efficiently by absorbing heat at a low temperature from the air or ground, increasing that heat to a higher temperature and transferring it into your space, without producing any harmful emissions. Heat pumps absorb the energy from the environment, and ‘concentrate’ it using a compressor for use in buildings, to provide heating and hot water. The compressor runs on electricity, and the ratio of electricity to heat is the key performance measure, and should be between 2 and 4 or even greater. Air source heat pumps are more eco- friendly, and make up for around 94% of the heat pump market. Air source heat pumps include CO2
and Propane. CO2 heat pumps are ideal for meeting high May 2023 Health Estate Journal 57
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