The Trust are aiming to reduce energy usage and deliver savings in carbon emissions by 15 per cent by 2010 against the 2000 output.
Energy initiatives were developed, progressed and implemented by a team led by an environmental manager and supported by a technical engineer and a larger active group of around 30 Energy and Green Champions drawn from throughout the Trust.
Specific achievements and initiatives include an Energy and Sustainability Steering Group, which obtained funding for implementing energy efficient improvements such as:
- Trust-wide installation of low energy lamps and lighting controls
- Reducing plant operating times
- Using the building-management system to review and make alterations to heating
- Introducing an air-handling unit serving the lecture theatre which is controlled by occupancy sensors
- Out-of-hours energy audits, which have been made in all areas, with naming and shaming
- Installing timers on secondary heating pumps serving administration areas
- Installing energy/water-saving taps
- Installing insulated covers on piping and pumps in the plant rooms
- Using automatic boiler blow down controls
The Energy team staged an annual Energy Week event that was open to all staff, public and other local NHS Trusts. This event was run in partnership with the Medway Council and included displays from Environment Agency, B&Q, Philips Lighting, CEN, Medway Transport, Southern Water to name a few. This included a programme of VIP energy tours, information, and practical demonstrations of renewable technology by the Trust’s Equipment Services department.
This event raised awareness of energy and sustainability issues with all staff together with practical measures that could be implemented to improve energy efficiency. The Trust has also established a green email address to which any member can post suggestions for energy and energy related cost saving ideas.
The Trust was one of 20 organisations selected to participate in the Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE) pilot scheme 100 Days Carbon Clean Up campaign. As part of this programme, one major building (the Post Graduate Centre) was chosen as a site to implement practical and cost effective measures to deliver real carbon savings.
The campaign was aimed at encouraging more people to save carbon and promote both behavioural changes and managerial initiatives to save energy in the workplace.
The measure of success was judged by an independent low carbon consultant who reviewed both the before and after consumption of energy resources in this building and who was able to reveal significant efficiencies in energy consumption. The Trust subsequently received the award for Best Carbon Performer from CIBSE in this national campaign.