Architects at the heart of NHS decarbonisation

The National Health Service (NHS) is the UK's largest public sector emitter of carbon emissions, a statistic that is particularly concerning given its crucial role in the health and wellbeing of millions of people. The NHS operates an extensive and ageing estate, which is not only a source of significant carbon emissions, but also increasingly a source of financial pressure due to rising energy costs, inefficiencies in building design, and the ongoing challenges of maintaining older buildings. In an era of climate change, the push for decarbonisation is more urgent than ever, and the healthcare sector is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact.

While global climate change targets set an imperative for decarbonisation, the NHS, with its vast estate, is in a unique position to reduce not only carbon emissions, but also to benefit financially from this transformation. The drive for carbon reduction, commonly referred to as 'Net Zero Carbon' (NZC), offers a significant opportunity to lower long-term energy costs and operational expenses (the NHS Net Zero Building Standard was published on 22 February 20231). Alongside this is The Net Zero Commitment, a voluntary pledge within the UK's private healthcare sector, with the aim of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2035, and a Net Zero supply chain by 2045. This initiative builds on the NHS's target of achieving Net Zero by 2040, and supports the UK government's commitment to net zero by 2050.

Architects, with their expertise in both the design and operational performance of healthcare environments, are key players in this transition. They are well positioned to guide NHS Trusts in achieving NZC through both new-builds and retrofits, ensuring that carbon reduction strategies are seamlessly integrated into the built environment, while also delivering substantial cost savings over time.