RUH could cut bills by 20%

Energy monitoring at the Royal United Hospital points the way to big savings.

Like all hospitals, the RUH is a large user of energy. Michael Ell, the hospital’s Estates Manager says that the current spend is nearly £1,127,168 for gas (52,947 MWh) and £777,419 for electricity (14,072 MWh). A total of £1.9m a year.

Plenty of scope for savings, you would think, but hospitals are difficult environments for energy-saving projects. Priority is inevitably - and justifiably - given to patient care and in keeping the site operational. ‘Extras’, like energy monitoring, are often the victims of a funding squeeze.

But it was energy monitoring by Our Big Energy Challenge that unearthed a significant problem at the RUH, namely that the site’s heating system (gas) and cooling system (electric) were not properly co-ordinated. At certain temperatures both could be working at once. Work is ongoing to rectify this.

According to energy consultant Ken Gale, this is a common problem found nationwide at large sites where investment in maintenance is under pressure.

And the estimated savings? Michael Ell reckons he’ll save 20% of the RUH’s annual energy bill: £170,000 on gas, £63,000 on electricity and 1,635 tonnes of CO2.