Specialist energy teams from Veolia have now extended the services they provide to United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT), with a wide-ranging programme of measures to be implemented under an Energy Performance Contract (EPC) expected to cut the Trust’s annual carbon emissions by 7,712 tonnes, provide £1.4 million in annual financial efficiencies, and ‘build long-term energy resilience, and make lasting enhancements to the patient care environment’.
UHLT is one of one of England’s largest acute hospital Trusts, with its three main hospitals – Lincoln County Hospital, Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, and Grantham and District Hospital – set to see their energy provision upgraded through the EPC, which is backed by a £4 m investment. Measures will include installing nearly 13,000 LED light fittings, new combined heat and power plant, boiler enhancements, conversion of the steam system to a low temperature hot water network, and new electrical infrastructure upgrades and control systems for the three hospitals, which cover an area of 74,174m2.
The new plant will be operated and maintained by Veolia's engineering teams for 15 years, with investment payback achieved in just over three. The new works will build on the reductions achieved by Veolia at Lincoln Hospital, where around 64,000 tonnes of CO2 has been saved since 2004 – including via the successful ‘90k in 90 days’ initiative, a three-month challenge to engage staff to make regular, small, money-saving changes. This resulted in the Trust cutting its overall carbon footprint by 13 per cent between 2009 and 2015, against a national average of 10 per cent.
Commenting on this latest energy contract, Gavin Graveson, executive vice-president, Veolia UK & Ireland said: “We look forward to continuing our work with the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust ,and helping it achieve its carbon reduction targets. The new measures will now extend the Trust’s efficiency and sustainability, and make a real difference to patient care facilities. At over £1 million per year, the savings will also make a big difference to the Trust’s budget.”
Claire Hall, associate director – Strategic Business Planning, United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, said: “Sustainability, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction, are at the heart of our management policy. We have already made great strides in reducing our carbon footprint. By upgrading and investing in sustainable technologies, it’s our ambition to reduce this by 28 per cent by 2021.”
