Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) has been awarded over £20m through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) to install low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures across the Trust estate.
The initial programme of works has seen the installation of air source heat pumps, which will reduce the consumption of natural gas, installing photovoltaics for electrical generation, switching to energy efficient LED lighting and replacing single glazed windows with low U value double glazing to reduce building fabric heat loss.
The next phase of work, secured under PSDS phase 3 funding, will focus on reducing energy demand by installing draught proofing and roof insulation and expanding the number of buildings connected to the local district heating network.
In April, Beckett Wing at St James's University Hospital became the first Trust building to connect to Leeds PIPES. The heating network provides affordable, reliable and sustainable heat to connected buildings. It uses recovered heat to serve the households and businesses across the city, including the Trust, to provide a low-carbon alternative to the traditional burning of fossil fuels for hot water heating.
Craige Richardson, Director of Estates and Facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says: "Reducing carbon emissions and achieving net zero is a top priority for the Trust. The funding will enable us to deliver schemes and initiatives that will reduce our carbon footprint and decarbonise our estate.
"As an anchor institution, it's important that we make a positive contribution to our local community. Converting our waste into energy, not only benefits the Trust, it helps provide affordable low-carbon heating for households across Leeds".
It is estimated that the projects will reduce carbon emissions by 5,500 tonnes per annum, which is equivalent to flying one way from Leeds Bradford Airport to New York 6,875 times, and the amount absorbed by 275,000 trees.
Chris Kelly, Associate Director for Estate Risk and Compliance at LTHT adds: "By fully integrating our road map for decarbonising the Trust estate, we aim to achieve a targeted reduction in the Trust's greenhouse gas emissions and meet the NHS 2040 net zero ambitions. This includes planned and strategic investments in energy and building infrastructure, focusing on reducing operational energy use, increasing renewable technology and low-carbon energy supply integration whilst maintaining resilience."
