Warrington hospital going green

A NEW energy efficient boiler system at Warrington Hospital will save around £100,000 in energy costs and carbon allowances.
A £2m project to fit three new natural gas as well as gas oil fired low pressure hot water boilers is almost complete.
When the new boiler system is up and running it will reduce Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust’s gas energy use by over 4,125,000 kWh each year – a reduction in over 750 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
The Hospital decided to ditch its old, raising steam boiler plant when it reached the end of its useful life. The energy efficiency of the boiler system will be around 82 per cent, over 30 per cent better than most domestic boilers.
Specialist services manager, Marcus Summers, whose role includes energy management, said: “The replacement system will have the advantage of benefitting from recent improvements in boiler technology and the associated improvements in boiler operating efficiencies.
“This will result in reductions in both carbon emissions and energy costs. The new plant will continue to provide hot water and heating to the areas that it serves – however ‘behind the scenes’ this will be carried out by a much more energy efficient process.”
The Trust is working with the NHS Sustainable Development Unit to make sure the hospitals meet the Climate Change Act targets of 26 percent reduction in their carbon footprint by 2020. It also plans to invest £600,000 during 2010 and2011 in energy efficiency schemes.
It hopes to set up green travel plans, use local suppliers for goods and services and encourage staff and patients to conserve energy and water as well as increasing recycling and improving waste management.
The hospitals have been awarded £1.1 million from the Department of Health’s Energy Sustainability Fund to invest in energy saving schemes.