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The environmental impact and ecological footprint of the Trust is considerable, and we have a duty and a role as a provider, an employer, a neighbour, a property holder, a purchaser and a supply chain manager, and ultimately must behave as a good corporate citizen.

- Keith Jones, Estates Controls Assurance Officer, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust

Case studies

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust: Environmental Management System

SNAPSHOT

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, one of the largest NHS Trusts in Wales, is reducing its negative environmental impacts through an integrated, and award winning, Environmental Management System - part of its contribution to sustainable development.

The Trust was awarded the Arena Network Award for Energy Best Practice in the Welsh NHS Sector in 2003, and a second time in 2005.

HIGHLIGHTS

Savings

  • Reduced C02 levels by 9% since 1999/2000
  • Combined heat and power facility will save £600 000 and reduce C02 emissions by over 2000 tonnes every year

 

Compliance

  • ISO 14001 certification

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust understands that its operations have extensive environmental impacts. It also acknowledges that it has a responsibility to behave as a Good Corporate Citizen - to achieve greater social inclusion, equity and improvement in the health of the community it serves.

In response, the Trust has set up an Environmental Management Structure with a steering group that reports directly to the Trust Board on the environmental management of the Trust.

The Trust developed and implemented an environmental policy, and an Environmental Management System (EMS), certified to ISO14001, is now in operation, providing a practical framework for managing energy, water, procurement of goods and services, waste management, land, pollution, discharges to drains and use of resources.

Strategies and projects include:

  • An integrated environmental, waste and energy training package, distributed to all new members of staff, and mandatory annual training for existing staff
  • Investment in energy efficient technologies and buildings services including lighting, inverter controls and energy conservation for refrigeration systems
  • Combined heat and power (CHP) installations - most recently, a new combined heat and power facility has been installed at the University Hospital of Wales site which will generate steam, hot water and electricity
  • An environmental procurement policy
  • An integrated travel strategy, including initiatives such as improved on-site cycle routes, public transport information days, and a public transport guide that has been widely distributed within the community
  • Working with local authorities and waste contractors on schemes to encourage staff to reduce waste and recycle
  • A number of other energy conservation schemes have been implemented including cavity wall insulation for certain buildings, upgraded heating, boiler plant and ventilation controls and further water conservation schemes.

For further details, see next page »