NHS meets carbon reduction targets

The NHS, the country’s biggest employer, was able to meet ambitious carbon reduction targets thanks to an Open Innovation project with the University of Exeter.

The National Health Service is responsible for 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. It accounts for three per cent of the UK’s carbon footprint making it a bigger polluter than some small countries.

Working with the University of Exeter’s Centre for Energy and Environment(CEE) the South West Ambulance Trust, the authority responsible for providing ambulance services for the NHS, were able to develop a strategy to lower fuel costs and reduce carbon.

The work highlighted several of the Trust’s operations where savings could be made and was published as a report by CEE for the Trust. The report has also been presented to other ambulance trusts.

The analysis of the carbon footprinting of the South West Ambulance Trust was made possible after a successful application for £5,000 to the Open Innovation fund brought them together with the CEE.

Funding for Open Innovation projects is provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).

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