SUSTAINABILITY
How energy control is enabling decarbonisation
With all NHS organisations recently publishing refreshed green plans, Kevin Gilhooly, Interim Healthcare Solutions lead at MRI Software, explores how adopting a data- driven approach to energy management is helping Trusts reduce emissions, meet sustainability targets and improve clinical outcomes. Drawing on real-world NHS experience, he explains why decarbonisation isn’t just a technical challenge, but an information challenge, and how technology can help healthcare estates overcome it.
The NHS’s commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040 is entering a pivotal stage. Back in July, NHS England required all Trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to submit their updated green plans, and now the emphasis is squarely on delivery. Strategy must translate into real, measurable action across estates and facilities. This next phase of climate action coincides with a unique opportunity. Targeted funding via the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) is enabling NHS bodies to invest in energy-efficient infrastructure, from smart metering and insulation, to low-carbon heating systems and intelligent energy platforms. For those receiving support, now is the time to embed the digital foundations that will underpin long-term carbon reduction, operational resilience, and clinical benefit. Yet many Trusts still face significant barriers: fragmented data, inconsistent reporting, manual processes, and limited visibility into how, when, and where energy is being consumed. This is where energy management technology plays a critical role.
Data is the missing link in decarbonisation For NHS estates teams, decarbonisation isn’t just about boilers, lighting, or electric vehicle (EV) fleets. It’s about data. Without a clear understanding of energy use at both macro and micro levels, it’s almost impossible to identify waste, prioritise upgrades, or track progress. This information gap remains one of the biggest blockers to sustainable healthcare. Without the ability to effectively pinpoint energy usage inefficiencies, and benchmark performance across different sites, teams will struggle to identify the investments likely to build the biggest impact,
and stay on track to meet Green Plan targets and 2040 Net Zero goals. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are among the most energy-intensive buildings in the public sector. Yet many Trusts still lack the granular data needed to identify inefficiencies and target improvements effectively. With a smart energy monitoring system, powered by IoT sensors and analytics, NHS organisations can gain real-time visibility into energy usage down to the level of individual rooms and devices.
A real-world example: turning data challenges into actionable insights One NHS organisation recently partnered with MRI Software to transform how they manage energy across a complex network of hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities. Like many Trusts, they faced the mounting challenge of delivering on ambitious carbon reduction goals while also improving operational efficiency. The pressure to demonstrate measurable progress against emissions targets had intensified, particularly with mandatory Net Zero deadlines on the horizon and heightened board-level scrutiny of sustainability performance. However, the path to transformation was not
straightforward. One of the first barriers the Trust encountered was around monitoring and compliance.
Targeted funding via the PSDS is enabling NHS bodies to invest in energy efficient infrastructure.
Targeted funding via the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is enabling NHS bodies to invest in energy- efficient infrastructure, from smart metering and insulation, to low-carbon heating systems and intelligent energy platforms
October 2025 Health Estate Journal 155
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