As an organisation, UCLH needs to minimise the environmental impact of our buildings and the energy they use and maximise our use of any technology available to support these changes. 

We also need to limit the impact of transport emissions and pollution produced by our staff, patients, and suppliers and recycle as much as possible. 

To achieve this, we will: 

• Reduce the direct emissions from our buildings to net zero by 2031 

• Be reliant on 100% renewable electricity derived from the cleanest sources 

• Maximise our onsite generation of renewable electricity

• Maximise our use of technology to reduce our emissions

• Increase the percentage of waste we recycle 

• Make the UCLH vehicle fleet electric

• Minimise the number of carbon-emitting journeys made by staff, patients and visitors

• Ensure that our estate is adequately adapted for future changes to our climate

• Maximise biodiversity across our sites. 

In 2020 UCLH consumed 20,700,000 kWh of electricity, equivalent to powering 7,137 homes. Switching to a green electricity provider later in the year brought UCLH closer to decarbonising its supply but a portion of that renewable energy still comes from biofuels such as burning woodchips which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Allocating space to generate onsite renewable energy can be challenging on central London sites but it's a necessary step decarbonise UCLH energy consumption by 2031.   

In 2023, UCLH completed the installation of a solar photovoltaic system on 3 roof spaces of the University College London Hospital building – podium and Elizabeth Garret Anderson Wing. The 452 panels will produce 180.56 kW in their first year and deliver cash saving per year. The panels will also offset 30 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per year.   

“The installation of solar panels will bring considerable financial and environmental benefits to UCLH and is just one of many sustainability projects taking place across our hospitals”, said director of estates and facilities, Olúkáyọ̀dé Aláká. “We will continue to explore how our estate can help UCLH reach its target of becoming a carbon-neutral organisation by 2031.”  

“UCLH’s net zero strategy outlines our need to measure the environmental impact of our buildings and maximise our use of any technology available to support these changes", said Elliott Westhoff, Head of Sustainability Programme at UCLH. “The new solar panels are just one example of how UCLH is turning this strategy into action.” 

The UK has committed to decarbonise the national electricity system by 2035. Home-grown, green technologies such as offshore wind and nuclear energy will support the UK to transition away from reliance on fossil fuels.  UCLH will continue to explore where more solar panels can be installed on the rest of the UCLH estate.

 

Taking action: Find and Treat service invests in green transport

Our electricity is now sourced completely from renewables.  We are continuing to install solar panels on more of our hospital buildings, including 452 new panels in early 2023.This means we now have solar panels on The Grafton Way Building, The Podium, and The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing.  

Installing solar panels on just one site could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 70 homes. We invested over £2 million in low-energy LED lights in 2022 across our hospitals: these use just a quarter of the energy of our previous lights, and last much longer. This is enabling UCLH to save more than 1,200 tonnes of CO2 per year.