NHS Property Services' nationwide Energy & Environment (E&E) programme is working to make NHS buildings more efficient, more resilient, and better places to work and receive care.
Over the past year, we have achieved a 5.2% annual reduction in carbon emissions, supported by £11.6 million in funding for decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects. This investment has included:
- 77 sites upgraded with LED lights, reducing electricity usage and improving lighting quality
- 114 Building Management System (BMS) upgrades, giving colleagues more control over heating, cooling, and ventilation
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£839k saved through active suppliers and portfolio management
Below are some of the sites where our work has had a real impact.
Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton
The Challenge
Royal South Hants Hospital (RSH) is a large multipurpose healthcare site, hosting a range of outpatient, community and clinical services delivered by multiple NHS organisations. The Mary Seacole building, a key operational part of the site, was historically supplied by a site‑wide district heating loop, which was fed from a central Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant.
As part of a wider estate redevelopment and optimisation programme, the buildings connected to the district heating network were due for redevelopment, including the location of the CHP (combined heat and power) energy centre. At the same time, the heating infrastructure had reached the end of its operational life and was increasingly costly to maintain.
Working closely with local NHS Trusts and the Integrated Care Board, NHS Property Services identified the need for a long‑term, low carbon heating solution that could be delivered without disrupting services.
The Solution
The decision was made to fully disconnect the Mary Seacole building from the district heating network and provide an independent, low‑carbon heating and energy system. The project was delivered by our Capital Projects team, with additional funding from the Energy Team through REEF (Regional Energy and Environment Fund).
The works included:
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Four air source heat pumps (ASHPs) to provide the main heat source
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Installation of a 500kv electrical supply to support the Heat pump and future site requirements.
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Three water‑to‑water heat pumps to raise temperatures above 65°C for hot water requirements
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A 400 kWp solar PV system installed across suitable roof areas
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Triple glazed window replacements to improve thermal performance and airtightness
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Cavity wall insulation and new insulation panels above windows to reduce heat loss
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Conversion of an existing underground car park space to house the heat pump plant
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Acoustic measures and structural changes to support airflow and minimise impact on nearby services
The project was delivered over a three-year period, with works carefully phased to avoid disruption to building occupants. The total project cost was approximately £6 million.
The Impact
Through close collaboration with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, the Mary Seacole building has been successfully decarbonised and future-proofed while maintaining safe patient care with minimal disruption.
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Removal of reliance on gas-based district heating, improving resilience during periods of high energy prices
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Improved thermal comfort, with fewer draughts and cold spots
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Safe removal of asbestos-containing materials during window replacement works
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More than 40 MWh of onsite electricity generated by solar PV array per month during summer 2025
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28% decrease of emissions in the first 6 months
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Estimated annual carbon savings of around 800 tonnes of CO₂, with monitoring ongoing through 2026
These upgrades will future-proof the Mary Seacole building, helping keep it low-cost and low-carbon.
Torrington Primary Care Facility, London
The challenge
Torrington Primary Care Facility needed a range of backlog maintenance works, including replacing the boiler, repairing the roof, and fixing other compliance and operational issues.
Rather than doing these works on their own, the opportunity was taken to use REEF funding to carry out these improvements alongside full electrification. The aim was to make the building ready for the future as part of wider net zero plans.
The customer was unable to relocate, so all works had to be completed while the site remained fully operational.
The solution
A £3m investment was used to remove gas boilers, install air source heat pumps, upgrade pipework and insulation, add solar PV, increase electrical capacity with a new substation, replace the roof, and prepare infrastructure for future EV chargers.
The impact (12 months since fitting)
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No increase to running costs (1% reduction)
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68% reduction in carbon emissions
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33% of the site electricity supplied by solar PV
Cleveland Health Centre, London
The challenge
Cleveland Health Centre was using too much gas outside opening hours because heating was starting too early and running when the site was closed.
The solution
Heating schedules were reset using BMS data to match actual building use, and manual overrides were removed with support from FM teams.
The impact (12 months since fitting)
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£28.5k cost savings
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30% less gas
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20% less electricity
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50 tonnes of CO₂ saved
Ambleside Health Centre, Cumbria
The challenge
Benchmarking showed Ambleside Health Centre was using more energy than expected for its size, with heating likely running on weekends and outside normal business hours.
The solution
The Regional Energy & Environment Manager worked with delivery teams to fix weekend heating schedules, remove unnecessary run hours, and better align heating times with how the building is used. This simple adjustment had a significant impact.
The impact (12 months since fitting)
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24% reduction in gas use
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30,000 kWh saved, equal to £2,219
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5 tonnes of carbon saved
Key NHSPS value add areas
- End‑to‑end delivery: We supported customers from early analysis and feasibility through to delivery and performance monitoring, while buildings remained fully operational and services continued throughout.
- Ability to deliver complex works in operational healthcare settings: All projects were carefully phased and coordinated with site users to maintain heating, hot water and safe access, with minimal disruption to patients and colleagues.
- Trusted NHS partner: Working closely with Trusts, GP practices and Integrated Care Boards, we aligned delivery with clinical priorities, wider redevelopment activity and NHS Net Zero objectives.
- Data‑led energy improvement: Benchmarking, system analysis and BMS insight were used to identify waste, correct system settings and track performance, delivering measurable cost and carbon savings.
- Sustainability and net zero delivery: We delivered full electrification, heat pump systems, fabric upgrades and solar PV, reducing reliance on gas and supporting long‑term carbon reduction targets.
- Estate optimisation and future‑proofing: Existing estate assets were reused where possible, and infrastructure was designed to be scalable, improving resilience and reducing exposure to future energy price volatility.
