Horton project to reduce carbon emissions completed

Solar panels installed at the Horton General Hospital

A projected 1,200 tonnes of carbon will be saved every year at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury following the completion of a decarbonisation and energy efficiency scheme.

Insulation upgrades and energy efficient heating and ventilation system improvements, as well as heat pumps and solar panels, have been installed as part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's (OUH) £6.5m project to reduce its carbon footprint and deliver financial savings.

A total of £5.7m was funded through Phase 3b of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is delivered by Salix on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. An additional £800,000 was funded by the Trust.

As well as reducing the hospital's carbon footprint, the new efficiencies, which also includes the installation of new pipework and an upgraded electrical supply, will improve energy consumption and heat controls in the buildings and will significantly reduce the Trust's annual financial energy costs.

Jeenash Mistry, Head of Estates and Facilities at OUH, said: "The completion of the decarbonisation project at the Horton General Hospital represents a huge achievement by all those involved to get the job finished on time and with minimum disruption to patient care in the hospital.

"The investment in the hospital’s new low carbon heating and energy infrastructure, insulation, ventilation system improvements, controls upgrades, and solar panels will reduce its carbon footprint and is integral to the Trust’s commitment to becoming net zero by 2040.

"The majority of the work was done 'behind the scenes' in the boiler rooms and electric sub-stations – areas most staff, patients and visitors never see – but they are already feeling the difference with more efficient heating and improved controls.

"The project has significantly updated the Horton’s energy and heating infrastructure and we are looking forward to seeing the data on financial and carbon savings."

Justin Morris, Client Support Officer at Salix, said: "Oxford University Hospitals has been proactive about reaching its net zero aims through a well-thought-out range of holistic carbon reducing measures at Horton General Hospital.

"The Trust team was able to tackle the complexities of the project and deliver it in a one-year timeframe. It's been a pleasure working with them over the year and witnessing the success of their collaboration."

A similar, but larger, project at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford is ongoing and should save approximately 4,000 tonnes of carbon each year. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.