Newham hospital receives £13.8m to go green and save money
Newham Hospital has secured over £13 million in government funding to become more energy efficient. The improvements will help to cut energy bills and create a more comfortable environment for patients and staff.
The funding, awarded through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, will support a range of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation projects. The scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix.
Together, the changes will save the hospital £111,000 every year.
From solar panels to new boilers, the upgrades will make the buildings more energy efficient and cut carbon emissions. This will ensure that Newham is on track to become the first hospital in the Barts Health group to reach net zero for carbon emissions with in just two years.
Starting next year, the following energy-saving improvements will be made across Newham Hospital:
Solar panels – Thousands of solar panels will be placed on the hospital’s roofs. These panels will make 955,015 kWh of electricity each year and save around £248,000 annually. They will also reduce annual carbon emissions by 37 tonnes of CO ₂ .
Low carbon heat pumps - Old gas boilers will be replaced with electric heat pumps. These pumps will provide heating, cooling, and hot water across the hospital, including air conditioning. This will save around 2,150 tonnes of CO ₂ every year.
More electrical power – The hospital’s electrical capacity will be upgraded to handle more energy and prepare for future improvements and power the new low carbon heat pumps.
Better lighting – Energy-saving LED lighting will be installed throughout the hospital.
New Building Management System (BMS) – A new system will help manage energy use and keep the building at a comfortable temperature. It will also help stop areas from getting too hot or too cold and reduce energy that is wasted.
Simon Ashton, Chief Executive of Newham Hospital said: “This investment is fantastic news for our hospital. Modernising our energy systems will create a more comfortable environment for our patients and staff, allowing us to reach net zero and enabling us to reinvest the savings back into frontline care.”
Rob Speight, Sustain ability Lead for Barts Health NHS Trust said: “ This funding allows us to make significant upgrades to our infrastructure – replacing ageing systems with modern, energy-efficient technologies. It’s a major step towards achieving net zero across our estate.”
Director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix Ian Rodger said: “We’re delighted to work with Newham Hospital. The NHS has challenging net zero targets and we will work together with the teams at Newham to help achieve these.
“It’s paramount that we reduce carbon emissions through the innovative and determined use of energy efficient technologies. Climate change is not standing still.
“The funding will enable the hospital to take great steps forward in energy efficiency whilst at the same time creating more comfortable spaces for patients, staff and everyone who uses them.”