Reducing our energy use is one way we can all help to achieve net zero. In the last financial year, NHSGGC used 129 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of grid electricity alone. To put that figure into context, that is the same greenhouse gas emissions as almost 20,000 passenger cars driven for a whole year.
NHSGGC’s Energy Team is flicking the switch to more sustainable options, investing over £1 million in LED lights and smart controls in 2021/22, much of which will be supported by funding from the Scottish Government’s Green Public Sector Estate Decarbonisation Scheme. The majority of this investment has been focused on older hospital sites including the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Gartnavel General Hospital and Dykebar Hospital. LEDs require less power than older style lights and therefore save on both electricity and carbon emissions. By integrating smart controls, the health board will realise additional savings by turning off or dimming the lights when they are not required.
The planned retrofitting of LEDs across three sites (GRI, RAH and Dykebar) will result in an annual saving of 1.5 million kilowatt hours and 316 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Allan Lamb, Energy Manager at NHSGGC, said: “With Glasgow welcoming COP26 this year, there is no better time to invest in reducing our energy consumption. This not only saves money, but helps us reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions whilst meeting our sustainability objectives and ensuring the future is bright for NHSGGC.”
Craig McGregor, Energy Manager at NHSGGC, looks forward to realising additional energy saving initiatives across the board’s estate: “We’re also making significant investments on various building energy management systems both on our acute sites and health centres and clinics. These upgrades will allow us to control our heating and ventilation systems more effectively, allowing them to operate more efficiently and consume less energy.”