Hospital celebrates £21.6m grant for energy efficiency projects

A £21.6 million decarbonisation grant will bring the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) NHS Foundation Trust one step closer to achieving its net zero goals.

The multimillion-pound cash boost will fund improvements including more environmentally friendly lighting, insulation, and heating and cooling controls.

Most of the vital funds will be used to de-steam much of the RUH’s 52-acre site, a process that will see the hospital’s ageing heating systems replaced with more energy-efficient options such as heat pumps. Together, these initiatives will make the hospital more sustainable, and a more pleasant environment for all those who use it.

When the proposed improvements are completed, by 2026, they will result in an estimated 24% annual reduction in carbon emissions over which the RUH has direct control. This equates to just over 3,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of just under 1,000 return flights to Seoul, or more than 150,000 car journeys from Bath to London, every single year.

RUH Chief Executive Cara Charles-Barks said:

“We are beginning to make great strides to reduce our emissions, through initiatives such as decommissioning our entire nitrous oxide manifold and a sustainable travel plan. However, we knew we needed to make significant investments in our estate to fulfil our commitment of reaching net zero for scope one and two emissions by 2030, in line with BaNES Council’s goals