NHS saves on energy, cuts costs through efficiency initiatives

The NHS has managed to save on energy and cut costs by implementing a range of efficiency initiatives across its trusts, a recent news report from the NHS Sustainability Day campaign has been able to suggest.

The report highlights both financial and carbon savings achieved through initiatives such waste management and using low carbon vehicles.

One of the key projects is Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust implementing electric vehicles and saving between £16,000 and £20,000.

Derbyshire Community Health Services also saw savings of more than £218,00 a year through energy efficiency initiatives used for frontline patient services.

Total savings over a 12-18 month period reached £5.5 million, with carbon emissions reduced by 350,000 tonnes.

However real savings are expected to be far higher as not all hospitals reported to the campaign.

Scott Buckler, NHS Sustainability Day Campaign Manager, said: "There has never been a more important time for the NHS to ensure a financially, socially and environmentally sustainable future. The huge financial challenge the NHS is currently facing requires new forms of thought leadership and innovation.

"This year's report provides an overview to what the NHS can achieve through the implementation of sustainable development. Much of the savings highlighted in the report are being utilised on frontline services. This is clear evidence that the government should and must be investing in a low carbon NHS fit for the future!"

Building Energy Management Systems can help drive down energy use across NHS Trusts

Behavioural change is always a difficult target to attain, but this is specifically where the HeatingSave Building Energy Management System BEMS could help.

HeatingSave has a number of features to prevent employees from adjusting the heating controls and leaving them in setting that can waste fuel. The keypad and display on the front of the controller has two levels of password protection.

These passwords can be changed by authorized personnel locally or centrally using the PC software. The password programming meets the requirements laid down by the Carbon Trust, and the PC software is user ID and password protected too.

Naturally, employees do have the right to set the ambient temperature at a value that best suites their needs, and HeatingSave manages this situation by firstly getting the temperature right so people don't feel too hot or cold. If employees do feel too cold, they can hit a button to increase the room temperature. The heating will be turned up for a while BUT will then automatically turn back — keeping the employee at the right comfort temperature — and saving the employer on their fuel bill.

If you'd like to find out more about the savings enabled by the HeatingSave Building Energy Management System, just contact our dedicated product team, they'll be more than happy to answer all of your questions and queries.