Ramsay Health Care Goes Green!
The New Year often signals a time for change and a pledge to
lead a more healthy lifestyle. Ramsay Health Care UK is no
exception, with a New Year’s Resolution to Go Green!
Through the guidance of an Environmental Steering Committee,
Ramsay Health Care UK made significant energy savings in the final
quarter of 2007, and has set a target to reduce their energy
consumption by 5% in 2008. Savings will come from a variety of
innovative measures, including the installation of solar-powered
lighting for outside car parks, the creation of Regional Energy
Coordinators and local Energy Marshals at Ramsay’s hospitals, and
through the better use of electronic equipment such as printers and
PCs.
Tim Pearl, Ramsay’s Director of Estates and Facilities, said:
“Ramsay acknowledges that reducing unnecessary waste and minimising
consumption of scarce resources is consistent with reducing costs
and assisting the environmental targets that will lead to better
outcomes for all.“
To ensure that every hospital can make some quick changes to
play their part, the committee drew up their ‘Ten Environmental
Commandments’, which are measures which can also be undertaken at
home:
- Turn off lights when not needed
- Turn off PCs, monitors, printers, laptops and docking stations
at the socket at the end of the working day, don’t leave them on
stand-by
- Turn off photocopiers, shredders and other office equipment at
the socket at the end of the working day
- Ensure that all mobile phone chargers and other adaptors are
unplugged when not in use
- Turn off TVs and non-essential equipment when patient rooms are
empty
- Monitor water wastage – report leaking taps, faulty
toilets
- Use air conditioning only when essential, and close windows and
doors when rooms are being heated
- Ensure that energy saving light bulbs are being used in your
work space
- Only print hard copies when essential, and use both sides of
the paper.
Further information on reducing energy consumption can also be
found at www.carbontrust.co.uk and
www.defra.gov.uk.