Case Study

Bristol hospital’s radical decarbonisation work showcased in new video 

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust’s work to radically transform its estate to cut its carbon output significantly is showcased in this video. 

Bristol Hospital has radically transformed its estate to cut its carbon output significantly.

The video was released by public sector decarbonisation organisation Salix Finance one month after COP27.  

The multi-million-pound works include replacing the steam district heating system with a hot water system. The new heating system is 18% more efficient, and the trust is expected to save more than £800,000 a year over the next two years and 12kWh of gas following these measures.

Replacing the gas-powered system 

Renewable plans include the installation of lagging (heat insulation of hot water tanks/pipes), double glazing windows and adding more solar panels on the roof.  

The £17.5m project means the trust can now move to an electric heating system, which, in turn, means they can replace their gas-powered system with one using heat pumps. 

The video features Bristol and Weston NHS Trust’s senior energy and sustainability manager Ned Maynard, who said: “The works we’ve done with Salix Finance have already saved us significant amounts of money and carbon, but this is just the start.  

Significant amounts saved 

“The next steps, which involve the installation of heat pumps, will enable us to reach our ultimate objective of being net zero by 2030.” 

Salix Finance is a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Salix Finance delivers the multi-billion-pound Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which enables public sector organisations to apply for funding to deliver low-carbon heating projects and improve the energy efficiency of their estate. The UK has a target to reach net zero by 2050, which is enshrined in law. 

James Garth, Salix Finance’s NHS programme manager, said: “This project will improve the environment for patients at the trust and also provides people in Bristol with a tangible example of how they’re contributing to tackling climate change.”