Energy
Energy infrastructure readiness: critical for an expanding sector
Jack Goodson, senior business development manager at Equity Energies, explains why integrating energy planning into broader business planning, asset management, and capital investment strategies is critical for providers looking to the sustainable long term
The UK’s care sector is on the cusp of profound transformation. An increasingly ageing population, bringing with it sometimes complex healthcare needs which require specialist environments or round- the-clock support, is putting immense strain on residential and care provision. The numbers speak for themselves.
Demand for residential and nursing care is forecast to surge, with an estimated 350,000 older people potentially needing a care bed by 2050, almost doubling the level of bed demand in the next 30 years. That means more buildings, more resource, more capacity, and – crucially – more energy. Skim the latest industry headlines and
you will read about funding shortfalls, chronic staffing shortages, and the digital
transformation of care delivery, but one critical pillar of the system risks being overlooked – the energy infrastructure needed to sustain the care environment itself.
The silent backbone of quality care Energy is often invisible until it fails. Heating, lighting, ventilation, life-saving medical equipment, kitchen facilities, lifts, IT systems – all rely on secure, efficient energy supply. It would not be an exaggeration to say that without resilient, modern energy systems, the basic operations of a care facility grind to a halt. At the same time, energy costs are now
second only to payroll for most providers. That means that any energy waste or
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inefficiency is directly reducing the funds available that could otherwise be reinvested into vital frontline services, staffing, and resident wellbeing. Put simply, energy readiness is not an optional extra – it is the foundation to quality care. Unfortunately, the stark reality is that
too many of the UK’s care facilities still rely on aging, inefficient, and increasingly unreliable energy infrastructure. Boilers installed at the turn of the millennium, single-glazed windows, dated wiring, and lacklustre insulation are all too common. Many older care homes were originally built as large houses or light commercial buildings and never designed to operate within the required energy-intensive 24/7 modern care expectations of today.
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