Over 10% of NHS estate to switch to 100% renewable electricity

Over 10% of NHS estate to switch to 100% renewable electricity

NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has announced a green energy contract with Inspired Energy that will see British Gas Business provide 100% renewable electricity to all their properties across England by April 2020.

NHSPS is responsible for around 11 per cent of the NHS estate, totalling more than 34 million sq ft, with over 3,500 properties (covering mostly hospitals, health centres and GP surgeries) and 5,000 employees, and is committed to actively making its sites more environmentally friendly.

By moving to 100% renewable electricity, NHSPS will reduce CO2 by over 40,000 tonnes per year, demonstrating its dedication to tackling climate change while promoting sustainable practices with all its buildings.

The move follows the launch of the ‘For a greener NHS’ campaign and forms part of NHSPS helping to transform the NHS estate so that it can provide sustainably run buildings that help to deliver excellent patient care.

The NHS is currently responsible for around 4-5% of the UK’s carbon footprint. In September 2019, Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, said the NHS would be accelerating its efforts to tackle climate change with a series of co-ordinated measures to reduce its carbon output – saying that the health service should also embolden staff to lead discussions with the public about wider measures needed to address climate change.

As well as switching to 100% renewable electricity by April 2020, NHSPS is also committing £1.5m in 2019/20 towards an LED upgrade programme, among other measures.

Notes

On top of being responsible for over 11% of the NHS estate itself, NHSPS provides property and facilities management expertise to the NHS. At a time of major change and increasing demand for the NHS, NHS Property Services is reducing costs, creating a more fit for purpose estate and generating vital funds, all of which are reinvested back into the NHS estate to support improvements in frontline patient care.

About NHS Property Services

NHS Property Services brings property and facilities management expertise to thousands of sites across the NHS estate. At a time of major change and increasing demand for the NHS, NHS Property Services is reducing costs, creating a more fit for purpose estate and generating vital funds that are being reinvested to support improvements in frontline patient care.

The company’s portfolio consists of 3,500 properties – worth over £3 billion – which represents over 10 percent of the entire NHS estate. The vast majority of our sites are used for clinical, local healthcare and fall into one of three categories: Health centres and GP surgeries; Hospitals/hospital-related properties; or Offices.