Project Overview:
As part of a Retained Energy Management Service (REMS), Low Carbon Europe were commissioned to provide long-term specialist support to St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in order to introduce and establish a clear pathway towards becoming a leader in sustainable healthcare. Operating directly within the Estates Department, Low Carbon Europe’s energy and sustainability consultants have been responsible for ensuring full compliance with the Trust’s integrated utility and environmental legislative responsibilities, alongside implementing a range of resource efficiency measures designed to simultaneously reduce the Trust’s carbon emissions and financial expenditures.
The multiple workstreams within our Retained Energy Management Service (REMs) helped the Trust to realise financial savings in excess of £220,000 during its first year of term.
Our Approach:
Through utilisation of our team’s specific skillsets and project experience with similar large NHS Trusts, Low Carbon Europe have supported the Trust by instilling a number of carbon reduction and sustainability initiatives which can subsequently be reported and showcased to both the Trust Board and NHS Sustainable Development Unit (SDU). In order to provide the necessary holistic approach towards meeting the strategic aims of the Trust, including a range of engineering expertise, sustainability policy guidance and environmental compliancy procedures, the team incorporated diverse services embedded within our REMS approach. This method has enabled us to guide the Trust through the incorporation of a comprehensive approach towards carbon reduction, sustainability and climate change adaption, focusing on enhanced staff engagement and the alignment of strategic documents.
Energy and Sustainability Highlights and Initiatives:
A number of our energy and sustainability highlights carried out as part of the Retained Energy Management Service (REMS) can be seen below:
Compliancy, Carbon Reduction and Energy Efficiency:
Invoice Validation and Management:
Full management, validation and recording of the Trust’s utility bills in order to identify any inaccurate charges and anomalies, while enabling detailed tracking and monitoring of the site’s consumption trends.
Utilities Recharging:
Calculating the utility recharges to St George’s (University of London) in relation to electricity, gas and water consumption, including the development and streamlining of internal processes.
Certification with the CHPQA Programme:
Processing and renewal of the Trust’s certification with the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Quality Assurance programme, in order to secure a 100% exemption from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) associated with the supply of gas.
On-Site Energy Audits:
Detailed assessment of the building stock throughout the Trust’s estate in order to identify feasible energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures.
Salix Funding Opportunities:
Identification of carbon and financial saving opportunities through energy efficiency projects eligible for SALIX funding, including annual savings of 593 Tonnes of CO2 through plant-room lighting upgrades and AHU monitor controls.
Integrated Sustainable Development:
Sustainable Development Management Plan (SDMP):
Creation of an initial Sustainable Development Management Plan (SDMP), ‘Cutting Carbon, Enhancing the Environment, Protecting People’, and an associated Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP), in order to establish a Trust-wide strategic approach towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions and increasing sustainability.
Climate Change Adaption Plan:
Development of the Trust’s first detailed approach towards ensuring preparation for climate change and the anticipated environmental and financial implications for the delivery of healthcare services.
Sustainability Champions Network:
Formation of a Trust-wide network in order to help identify carbon and waste reduction measures from specialist areas of work and promote sustainability initiatives.
Energy and Sustainability Communications:
Production of tailored materials for publication on the Trust’s intranet in order to enhance awareness and understanding of sustainability and climate change within a healthcare setting.
NHS Sustainability Day:
Management and leadership of the annual event in order to promote the Trust’s energy and sustainability goals and engage with staff, patients and members of the public.
The Future
Following the success of the initial Retained Energy Management Service (REMS), Low Carbon Europe will continue to support St George’s in developing energy and sustainability programmes.
We look forward to designing and introducing further mechanisms to enable the Trust to achieve progressive carbon emission reductions in accordance with the Climate Change Act 2008 and NHS-specific targets.
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