Europe's biggest employer pledges to cut carbon footprint

The Carbon Reduction Strategy, which was recently published for consultation, commits the NHS to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 in all areas, including procurement, travel and building energy use, and sets out ways that this can be achieved.
    
Launching the strategy at Kentish Town Integrated Health Centre in London, Health Minister Ivan Lewis said: "Climate change is one of the greatest threats to our health and well-being.
    
"As part of our commitment to sustainable development we will work with the NHS to enable organisations to reduce their carbon footprints. Climate change also has real health implications, and so we are taking action to help people adapt to our changing climate.
    
"Climate change is happening on our watch - it will be our legacy. We must all work together to tackle this global problem."

Action needed
The NHS is responsible for over 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and is the largest public sector contributor to climate change. The strategy shows where NHS carbon dioxide emissions are coming from and then proposes actions for reducing that carbon footprint.
    
The chief executive of the NHS, David Nicholson, said: "The nature and the scale of our business in the NHS means we have a responsibility - as well as a unique opportunity - to play a leading role in the climate change agenda for the benefit of patients and the public.
    
"It is up to us to challenge ourselves, so the scale of our ambition to tackle carbon emissions matches the scale of our opportunity. This consultation is an important next step on that journey.
    
"To provide practical support to organisations in doing this, we have established a new NHS Sustainable Development Unit. This will help build on the work we are already doing - over half of all NHS Trusts are now registered on the NHS Good Corporate Citizenship Assessment Model - adding fresh ideas and impetus.
    
"I am confident we can rise to this challenge and I look forward to every leader and member of staff playing their part in another achievement the NHS can be proud of."
    
Sustainable development
Proposals suggested within the strategy include: all NHS bodies to have a Carbon Management Strategy by 2009; organisations to report annually on their sustainable development progress; and for the NHS to recycle 75 per cent of its waste by 2020. The Strategy is a draft for consultation and people are encouraged to respond by 21 August.
    
The strategy is the first output of the NHS Sustainable Development Unit, which is hosted by NHS East of England. Chief executive of NHS East of England Neil McKay said: "Our unit was created to provide the leadership, support and ammunition that NHS organisations need to take sustainable development into account in their day-to-day business. This is the first of a series of strategies that will take forward a sustainable development programme in the NHS.
    
"I would encourage anybody - doctors, nurses, patients, visitors - to put forward their views as part of this consultation."

Energy reducing design
Kentish Town Integrated Health Centre is a £10 million new facility built with an energy reduction design including:

• Night and day cooling via vented window apertures and intelligent roof vents
• Externally insulated roof and highly insulated walls
• Solar powered wind catches to maintain airflow
• Part grey water system
• Modular cascading boilers and intelligent building management system to manage energy reduction
• Solar reflective glass and reflective window blinds

Handover of the building to the PCT is set for December 2008 and is currently ahead of programme. This building is considered to be some 12 times more efficient than the previous Kentish Town Health Centre.

For more information
Saving Carbon, Improving Health: A Carbon Reduction Strategy for the NHS in England - a consultation document can be found at http://www.sdu.nhs.uk and closes
21 August 2008.