UK Green investment Bank set to help NHS

'Cut energy use and save money' are among the aims of the UK Green Investment Bank's new NHS Energy Efficiency Financing Programme, which is to be officially launched in Birmingham next month.

Designed to help Trusts and Health Boards bolster their budgets by implementing energy efficiency measures, senior representatives from GIB and the NHS will outline the opportunities available to reduce energy usage and associated costs, improve energy services and meet energy reduction targets. 

The UK NHS deals with more than 1m patients every 36 hours working across some 2,300 hospitals. Due to its size and activities, the NHS is a heavy user of energy. 

UK Green Investment Bank managing director for energy efficiency, Gregor Paterson-Jones explained: "The NHS estate offers a huge opportunity for cost savings through energy efficiency. The time is right – the technology is mature and well proven, we have some very positive case studies showing what's possible and all public bodies have to face the risks of rising energy costs and ongoing budget pressures. We are launching this programme and holding these events to demonstrate how straightforward and beneficial investments in energy efficiency are for the NHS."

GIB has already backed a number of NHS energy efficiency programmes including the UK's largest energy efficiency retrofit at a hospital. Projects can include combined heat and power plants, boilers, building retrofits, lighting and energy reduction technologies for production processes, among others.

Shaun Kingsbury, chief executive of the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB), has invited NHS chief executives, finance and estate Ddirectors to learn about the programme at its first NHS Energy Efficiency Forum. It will take place at Birmingham's Aston University on Wednesday 2 April and will be followed up with a separate event in Edinburgh in the coming weeks.