The Department of Health has recently won an award for its efforts to stem the increase in energy consumption within the Department. The Department collected its gong at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show’s Energy Expo, where the Energy Awards 2012 winners were announced. The saving in energy consumption comes from a number of initiatives over recent years, both big and small, which are estimated to have delivered savings of around £220,000. One of the more innovative developments has seen the implementation of equipment to reuse steam from Noble’s Hospital laundry for heating.
Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, was delighted that the Department’s efforts had been recognised:
“As all of us are very well aware, energy costs continue to rise whether it’s to heat and light our homes or run our vehicles. This cost increase naturally extends to businesses, government and other organisations. As one of the largest departments of government it’s vital that we not only ‘do our bit’; but that we are seen to lead the drive to be more efficient and economical when it comes to energy consumption - looking to minimise any increases in both costs and our carbon footprint. The efforts of everyone in the Department, but in particular our Estates Services Directorate, are to be commended - it’s our staff who have made the savings possible.”
In 2011/12 the Department of Health used 57,144,777 kilowatt hours on energy totalling £2,555,836 with 84% accounted for by Noble’s Hospital. For the same period, CO2 emissions by the Department stood at 12,587 tonnes.
Healthcare, especially in an acute hospital such as Noble’s, is a highly energy intensive process. With continuous developments in technology and medical practice, not to mention a growing population and increasing demand for healthcare, the demand for energy increases year on year. The Department of Health often has to look for inventive ideas and opportunities to save energy, as it operates some of the Island’s most vital and critical services, which by their nature are highly energy intensive, with no scope for reduction.
Noble’s Hospital’s steam recovery initiative was singled out as being highly innovative. The hospital undertakes laundry for the whole of the Island’s health service, and cleaning and sterilising laundry to the conditions required is a highly energy intensive process. Steam had been getting vented from the laundry but is now recycled, instead being used to pre-heat Noble’s Hospital’s steam boiler water feed.
Keir Morris, Hospital Engineer from the Estates Services Directorate, who accepted the award on behalf of the Department said:
“We’re thrilled to have won this award, but our work is far from a flash in the pan initiative; the Department has taken a co-ordinated and integrated approach in its efforts to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions wherever it can over at least the past decade. This has been from simple common sense steps such as reminding staff to turn off lights, or fitting light sensors in certain areas to avoid lights be left on; to bigger and more innovative projects, such as the heat reclamation project by capturing steam from the laundry at Noble’s Hospital. This one example alone saves around £12,000 a year in energy costs and reduces our CO2 emissions by over 87 tonnes a year. Looking at how we can reduce energy and be more efficient is built into all of our projects and is an ongoing process that reaps rewards for both the public purse and the environment.”
The Energy Awards, now in their fourth year, recognise the achievements of local businesses and public sector organisations in reducing their energy consumption and improving the efficiency of their organisations. Currently there are over 60 trained Energy Champions within local business and 60 within Government Departments.
