SUSTAINABILITY
New hospitals are being designed with these modern
heating systems from the outset, and many existing facilities are retrofitting heat pumps to replace ageing boilers. Given the diversity of hospitals across the country, tailored solutions can help to meet specific needs. For example, one public hospital replaced a 2,500 kW LPHW boiler with a heat pump system delivering hot water at 80 °C, annually reducing CO2
emissions by 1,300 tonnes.
Another hospital in a major city replaced a 1,000 kW steam boiler with a 120 °C heat pump system, cutting CO2
emissions by 550 tonnes per year. In the Midlands, a third hospital replaced its existing
2,200 kW LPHW boilers and 3,000 kW chillers with an electric thermal management system based on heat pump technology, which provides simultaneous heating and cooling, cutting 1,990 tonnes of CO2
emissions annually.
Simultaneous cooling and heating Given that chillers are essential equipment for hospitals, and that other cooling needs are increasing as the climate warms, these dual-function systems will become increasingly vital. Thermal management systems that deliver both heating and cooling simultaneously are highly energy-efficient due to their ability to capture and re-purpose energy from one process to another. When the system is in heating mode, it also produces cooling without requiring additional energy. Conversely, while cooling, it generates heat as a by-product that can be utilised for heating purposes. Simplifying and putting it into perspective: just as electric
vehicles use braking to recover energy for acceleration, heat pumps in large buildings can switch between heating and cooling multiple times a day, recovering and recycling energy instead of wasting it. This significantly improves the efficiency of meeting the heating and cooling needs occurring at the same time. Integrating cooling and heating systems allows for the repurposing of energy, meeting the year-round cooling needs of surgical facilities and vital IT equipment such as MRI scanners, while also providing domestic hot water and heating to keep patients comfortable. Heat recovery chillers can generate hot water as a by-product of the chilled water system, storing cooling energy through ice banks when not simultaneously required. As extreme heat events become more frequent, prudent
hospital estate management is planning for future cooling needs. Simultaneous heat pump systems offer a promising solution to this challenge. While pure heating heat pump
solutions require external (sustainable) heat sources such as air or (ground) water, simultaneous heating and cooling applications provide the unique opportunity to reclaim or harvest energy which is available within the same building.
Removing barriers to implementation A common misconception is that sustainable solutions are prohibitively expensive. In reality, the energy efficiency and CO2
Above left: A Trane Sintesis Balance CMAF multi-pipe unit installation.
Above right: A Trane Sintesis Advantage CGAF air-cooled chiller.
reductions achieved through these technologies
often result in short payback periods, sometimes within just two to three years. Another myth is that these systems are complex and only applicable to new buildings. In fact, most existing buildings have poor energy performance that can be significantly improved with smart heating and cooling solutions. Replacing cooling-only machines with those capable of simultaneous heating and cooling makes the incremental cost more manageable. The UK government recognises the need to decarbonise buildings, providing support and incentives to help public sector buildings, including hospitals, better cope with climate change while reducing emissions. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme3
is a major
enabler for hospitals to make these upgrades, providing over £1.425 bn of grant funding over the financial years 2022–2023 through 2025–2026. The scheme supports the aim of reducing emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037, compared with a 2017 baseline, making it easier to improve building infrastructure and increase use of renewable energy sources, including heat pumps. We have a clear vision for our cities – a future where renewable energy generation, heating and cooling of buildings, and energy storage, seamlessly work together to create highly energy-efficient buildings. These facilities would produce enough energy to operate independently of the grid, repurposing what would otherwise be wasted, and achieving significant energy efficiencies. If decarbonised buildings became the standard, we could enjoy cleaner air, and live in smarter, healthier, and more resilient cities that are less dependent on fossil fuels.
References 1 National ambition. NHS England.
https://tinyurl.com/2p89j4mr. 2 Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service report. NHS England. 1 October 2020.
https://tinyurl.com/bp76k8k3.
3 Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. 1 October 2020.
https://tinyurl.com/ uzw6adje.
Ross Giles
Ross Giles, Business leader for Trane UK, has been involved with hospital engineering for over 35 years in a number of specialised disciplines – including controls, refrigeration, and heating, cooling and air systems. He has taken projects from conceptional design to building handover, and – Trane says – ‘has a unique view and thorough understanding of both the environmental requirements for decarbonisation, and the practical approach of delivering systems that meet clients’ expectations’.
October 2025 Health Estate Journal 109
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