02.07.19
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust to reduce energy costs by £800k a year
The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust are set to reduce their energy costs by £800,000 a year, following a £7m investment into sustainable energy measures.
State-of-the-art energy technology will be installed at five sites across Exeter as part of the project, helping the foundation trust to cut its energy costs by 17% annually.
Design and construction is set to be completed by the end of April 2020 and includes the installation of a new 1.5MW combined heat and power unit that will generate power on site at Wonford Hospital.
Roof-mounted solar panels will also be installed at Wonford and Heavitree Hospitals and Mardon Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre in Exeter.
READ MORE: Can the NHS find savings in their energy bills?
Once complete, it will reduce annual emissions by more than 2,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide – the equivalent to taking more than 1,450 cars off the road.
The work is part of the trust's wider sustainability programme to help it lower energy costs and become a greener organisation with a smaller carbon footprint.
Robert Steele, the Trust’s deputy director of strategic capital planning, said: “As a major hospital providing round-the-clock services, we consume large amounts of energy so we’re committed to a range of measures to help us continually improve energy efficiency.
“This initiative is a major part of our approach to reduce the amount of money we spend on energy and utilities, releasing more funds to invest in frontline patient care and other vital functions. At the same time, reducing our energy consumption helps reduce our environmental impact.”