Hospital saves cash with new boiler

Apr 20 2006 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

MILLIONS of pounds in electricity costs are to be saved at a Birmingham hospital with plans to fit a new green ecofriendly boiler system.

Heartlands Hospital bosses are making the revolutionary move to build the new environmentally-friendly boiler house.

The system will allow Heart of England Trust to change from burning coal, which emits large quantities of carbon dioxide, soot and particals into the atmosphere, to burning gas, which is a more efficient fuel and kinder to the environment.

Geoff Fox, facilities manager of estates at Heartlands, said: "We were attracted to this new system as it will not only save money, but it also complies with Government targets to cut down carbon emissions, a harmful greenhouse gas.

"By taking part in the scheme we will reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by 3.5 thousand tonnes per year and be able to generate our own electricity in the boiler house, which reduces our electricity consumption by one million watts."

Company ENER-G Combined Power has signed up to install and maintain the system over the next 15 years for Heart of England Foundation Trust.

It comes at a time when many hospital bosses are struggling to balance the books and rising energy bills of gas and electricity. Building work on the boiler is to begin in June.

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