Vital Energi builds a sustainable future for Coventry hospitals

Published: 6-Oct-2021

Trust achieves savings of £1.6m a year through Carbon and Energy Fund improvements

Vital Energi has delivered financial savings of £1.6m a year for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW), money that will be used to improve patient care.

The project, which was delivered under the Carbon and Energy Fund (CEF), will also help to reduce the carbon footprint of the trust’s two hospital sites by 4,125 tonnes a year through the use of futureproof energy generation equipment.

It involved significant restructuring works of University Hospital Coventry’s main clinical waste compound to be able to accept the new 3.3MW combined heat and power (CHP) unit and all ancillary equipment.

New accommodation was also constructed to relocate and store medical sharps cabinets, and a new delivery area built to redirect deliveries of clean linen and the removal of all site laundry.

And Vital Energi completed upgrades to the BMS system at the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby and upgraded over 2,000 lighting fittings to new energy-efficient LED bulbs.

Work commenced in August 2019 and carried on through the pandemic.

Steve Black, Vital Energi’s account sirector, who led the project, said: “We overcame a number of challenges during construction, such as maintaining the waste compound operational activities in a safe and efficient manner while building works were carried out in proximity.

“We also maintained a good workflow through the project despite the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting at a critical point in the schedule.

“We’re delighted that the energy project programme was a success and the trust is now gaining the benefits of the integrated energy solutions which are paving the way to a low-carbon future for both hospitals.”

The trust’s sustainable development manager, Clive Robinson, adds: “The Trust is pleased with the energy saving solutions provided by Vital Energi, the savings both financial and in carbon emissions are part of our journey towards net zero.”

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