The work [with the Carbon Trust] really helped us to cut across divisions and draw lots of smaller initiatives together under one strategic umbrella into a plan we could present to the Board. The advice we’ve received has been a useful combination of simple steps we can implement now as well as long term measures which together will help us to achieve tangible cost and carbon savings.
Exceeding targets
In 2010, after three year’s work with the Carbon Trust, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has realised a 20% year on year carbon emissions’ reduction (double the NHS target for the same period). As a result, it has cut its energy bills by over £1.7 million a year. In recognition of these achievements, the hospital has gained the Carbon Trust Standard and become a Platinum Award member of the Mayor of London’s Green500 scheme. include the installation of the largest combined heat and power (CHP) capacity in the NHS,
The business case
Guy’s and St Thomas’ is one of the busiest NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK, employing around 10,000 people and serving over 850,000 patients every year. By 2004, the Trust was spending roughly £10 million a year on energy, a cost that was growing rapidly due to rising energy prices.
The approach
Our Carbon Management programme helped Guy’s and St Thomas’ identify its carbon footprint and then to quantify new and existing proposals to reduce carbon emissions and consolidate them under one umbrella.
Key activities undertaken, which were funded by a £2m investment, include the installation of the largest combined heat and power (CHP) capacity in the NHS, the addition of energy efficiency measures during the refurbishment of the Guy’s Tower, updates to the hospital’s catering and laundry facilities, improvements to the heating and lighting controls, and the extension of the hospital’s building management system to previously unconnected areas.
Savings at a glance
- Annual CO2 reduction: 20% year on year reduction - double the NHS target for the same period.
- Annual cost savings: £1.7 million
- Areas focused on: CHP, automatic meter reading, centralised computer shutdown, extension of building management system, improvements to heating and lighting controls, improvements to catering and laundry facilities
Find out more about expert advice and support for NHS Trusts to reduce energy costs and cut emissions.